- First-leg result: Red Star scored 4 goals and conceded none in the first-leg win in Northern Ireland, 4-0.
- Home form: Red Star have scored 3.40 goals per game across their last 5 competitive home games, conceding an average of 2.00 goals.
- Away defence: Larne have conceded just 0.40 goals per away game across all competitions over their last 5.
Red Star should seal the deal
Tactical context
With Red Star Belgrade priced up as the heavy favorites for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 second-leg, the only way to play the game is on the goal lines. The Serbians were utterly dominant in the last game, running out 4-0 winners in Larne and the Irish outfit have a mountain to climb if they are to avoid elimination at the second-qualifying round stage.
Style and setup
Dejan Stankovic has instilled a real sense of authority in Red Star since he took the reins. They're a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 side that likes to control the ball and overloads central areas of the pitch in possession. They press hard when they lose the ball, often making life difficult for opponents when they win the turnover.
Form and key player
- Across all competitions, Red Star's last 10 games reads as W5, D2 and L3, which is a solid return but not a perfect one.
- They've scored ten goals in their last five matches and Bruno Duarte has been their danger man with two goals in UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 (2 in 1 appearance).
Larne will have a game plan
Gary Haveron has kept his Larne side compact and disciplined this season, typically setting up in a 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 and staying narrow to protect the middle of the field. They'll look to absorb pressure and hit on the counter attack or from set pieces.
Recent form and scorers
However, Dan Bent leads their UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 scoring charts with one in three, so they do have a reliable target man to make a nuisance of himself with.
- Larne's form is mixed but they have won three of their last five games and come into this second-leg with a modicum of momentum following a 4-0 defeat away from home.
- They've won three, drawn one and lost just one of their last five away matches across all competitions, conceding just 0.40 goals on average.
- Matthew Lusty has found his rhythm recently, netting four of Larne's 11 goals in the last five.
Red Star should have a field day
The value lies in the bet on Red Star winning and under 2.5 goals or BTTS-No, as we think this will be a tough night for Larne. The home team will likely pin Larne back for the majority of the game and the away side will likely try to keep things tight, so the script suits the hosts in every way and we're banking on another Red Star win.
