Larne vs RFS

Larne’s chances of reaching the next Champions League qualifying round are hanging by a thread as they welcome RFS to Inver Park, looking to haul back a substantial 3-0 deficit.

Despite winning back-to-back NIFL Premiership titles for the first time in the club’s history, Larne’s European track record is still abysmal. After making it to the third qualifying round of the 2021/22 Europa Conference league season, they’ve lost three consecutive European qualification ties, failing to get on the scoresheet in four of their six matches in that run. Therefore, it’s hard to expect them to score three against the odds here to take this tie to extra time. Tiernan Lynch’s team can draw inspiration from netting 5+ goals in two of their last three competitive home outings, though they’ve never scored more than two across their previous 14 European fixtures.

On the other hand, RFS did much of the heavy lifting in the first leg to set one foot in the Champions League qualifying round two for the first time in the club’s history. But the visitors cannot afford to take anything for granted as they’ve stuttered on the road lately, picking up just one win across their last seven continental travels (D3, L3). Yet, as they conceded three goals in just one of those seven matches, their comfortable first-leg lead should be safe and sound. Manager Viktors Morosz will hope for a slightly different outcome this time, with his side taking this trip on a five-game winning streak away from home.