Saracens……40
Cardiff……….33
Max Malins starred as Saracens overcame a spirited Cardiff fightback in an entertaining game at the StoneX Stadium.
The victory set up an all-Premiership Challenge Cup quarter-final with Gloucester.
Dom Morris touched down the first try of the game for Sarries before Tomos Williams scored and created one for Owen Lane to lift Cardiff's hopes.
Rhys Carre burrowed in late on to set up a finish, but Saracens held out.
Three-time Champions Cup winners Saracens are in unfamiliar territory playing in Europe's second tier competition this season, but showed their intent to continue progressing with McCall restoring the likes of Maro Itoje and Malins to bolster their ranks.
However, they certainly did not have the game their own way against a Cardiff side struggling for form in the United Rugby Championship, belying those struggles with real grit and determination.
Their rhythm was upset throughout, and it took real class to break the Welsh club down, exemplified by Duncan Taylor's no-look pass for Morris' score and the subtle hands of Malins for both of Maitland's tries.
Owen Farrell also delivered a money-ball offload for Malins' score, as well as kicking 15 points.
Cardiff scrum-half Tomos Williams was a livewire during his stint, gliding between defenders for his try and again cutting through for Lane's effort, while Rhys Priestland's boot contributed 16 points to the tally from the tee.
But Dai Young's side will rue some of their missed opportunities, particularly when Lane failed to gather from Hallam Amos' surge, spilling with the line beckoning.
This exit ends any hope of reaching the Heineken Champions Cup, while Sarries' push for glory on all fronts remains.
Max Malins was superb for Mark McCall's side, scoring a try and contributing to two more.
Saracens: Goode; Maitland, Morris, Taylor, Malins; Farrell (capt), Davies; Barrington, Pifeleti, Carey, Itoje, Swinson, Christie, Earl, Wray.
Replacements: Lewis, Mawi, Wainwright, McFarland, B Vunipola, Van Zyl, M Vunipola, Segun.
Cardiff: Amos; Lane, Smith, Llewellyn, Summerhill; Priestland, Tomos Williams; Domachowski, Belcher, Lewis, Davies, Thornton, Lewis-Hughes, Navidi (capt), Botham.
Replacements: Dacey, Carre, Davies-King, Teddy Williams, Boyde, L Williams, Evans, Morgan.
