- Recent results: Larne's last two UEFA Champions League qualification wins were against SP Tre Fiori – 1-0 away, 2-1 home.
- Away form: FK Red Star Belgrade's away form is only W1, D2, L1 over their last 4 in all competitions.
- Recent form: Larne have taken 4 wins and 1 draw from their last 5 in all competitions.
Larne’s Lad can lay a glove on Red Star
The bookies make Red Star Belgrade clear favorites at 1.14 to beat Larne in this UEFA Champions League qualification tie while the draw is at 7.1 and the Northern Irish are huge long shots. Red Star are in solid form with five wins, two draws and three defeats in their last 10 in all competitions, but that's not an overwhelming record for a team that should be dominating. Their away record has been average with one win, two draws and one defeat in their last four on the road in all competitions, so we think Larne are live here and can make this an awkward game for the visitors on Tuesday.
Red Star boss Dejan Stankovic has his team playing a proactive 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1 system, building from the back with possession, pressure and overloads in the wide and half-space lanes to create penetration and chances. Larne boss Gary Haveron has his men set up in a disciplined 3-4-1-2 system, with his wing-backs and narrow shape designed to stay compact and strike in transition.
Larne’s home record is good enough to make them live
Tactical battle
This looks like a classic control vs containment chess match with Red Star trying to squeeze the game and the hosts looking to absorb, reset and counter-attack.
Form and momentum
Larne's form is good with seven wins from their last 10 in all competitions, so they have momentum coming into this European campaign and they will be right into it if they can replicate their recent displays.
Key players
Matthew Lusty has been Larne's hottest finisher of late, netting five of the last 13 goals in their last five games in all competitions, but Dan Bent, who has one goal in two in UEFA Champions League qualification, could be their best bet here. He's the type of player who can find the right channel and finish off the type of moves that Larne are likely to create against Red Star.
Stats
- The Serbians have averaged 1.25 goals per away game in all competitions this season, scoring only five goals on the road in total, so this is not likely to be a big win for Red Star.
- Larne averages 3.00 goals per game at home in all competitions, conceding an average of 1.20, so they know how to be efficient without going crazy.
Red Star away form suggests this will be tight
Red Star's last three games have been a 1-2 home defeat to OFK Belgrade in the Super Liga championship group, a 1-3 friendly defeat to Zenit and a 5-0 league win over Mačva Šabac, so their form line has a bit of swing in it.
The BTTS - No and Under 2.5 goals bets look solid at 1.5 and 2.62 respectively for a tight and cagey night at Inver Park.
