Red Star Belgrade vs Larne - prediction, team news, lineups

Red Star Belgrade are connected the cusp of advancing into the 3rd circular of Champions League qualifying, with the nine acceptable to big the 2nd limb of their necktie against Larne connected Wednesday at Stadion Rajko Mitic.

The 2 sides clashed successful the archetypal limb of the 2nd qualifying circular connected July 21, but the necktie was efficaciously settled fixed Red Star emerged arsenic 4-0 winners.

Match preview

Last week's fist limb was reasonably competitory successful the archetypal half, with Red Star lone taking a 1-0 pb into the interval, but a second-half blitz saw the Serbian broadside instrumentality a four-goal vantage into Wednesday's clash.

The Red-Whites did not concede much than 3 goals successful immoderate lucifer successful 2025-26, and they lone conceded much than erstwhile successful 1 of their six Champions League qualifying games successful that campaign.

Red Star played 8 location European fixtures past term, and the nine won 3 times, mislaid doubly and settled for stalemates successful 3 game, portion their losses came by a 1 and two-goal margin.

Manager Dejan Stankovic has enjoyed a cleanable commencement to 2026-27 campaign, winning each 3 of his outings, with his players scoring 12 goals and conceding connected conscionable 1 occasion.

The hosts should beryllium assured up of the lucifer considering they person lone failed to find the backmost of the nett successful 2 of their 22 astir caller European fixtures.

Larne's situation connected Wednesday volition beryllium seen by galore arsenic impossible, particularly arsenic they person ne'er antecedently scored astatine slightest 4 goals successful immoderate UEFA competition.

The visitors person successful information ne'er adjacent netted 3 times successful an distant lucifer successful Europe, and they person kept conscionable 5 cleanable sheets successful their 16 European fixtures connected the road.

Boss Gary Haveron volition astir surely beryllium reasoning up to his side's play successful the Northern Irish apical flight, which is acceptable to statesman connected August 9.

However, nonaccomplishment to beforehand into the adjacent signifier of Champions League qualifying would not awesome the extremity of the team's continental run fixed they would beryllium entered into the Europa League's 3rd qualifying round.

In Larne's past 8 competitory contests distant from home, they person scored 1 oregon less goals 5 times, with the visitors blanking once.

Red Star Belgrade Champions League form:

Red Star Belgrade signifier (all competitions):

Larne Champions League form:

Larne signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Despite the information that Red Star person the luxury of being capable to remainder galore stars, the lineup volition astir surely beryllium strong, though striker Bruno Duarte should not beryllium expected to play the full game.

The centre-forward could beryllium supported by Vasilije Kostov and Mirko Ivanic, and the erstwhile volition beryllium keen to people his 2nd extremity against Larne.

Timi Max Elsnik is simply a campaigner to commencement astatine the basal of a midfield three, and the anchor whitethorn beryllium asked to support centre-backs Strahinja Erakovic and Milos Veljkovic.

As for Larne, they could sanction a beardown squad initially, but it would beryllium astonishing to spot the likes of Dan Bent and Matt Ridley diagnostic successful defence for the entirety of the game.

Sean Graham, Chris Gallagher and Ronan Doherty whitethorn play successful the mediate of the pitch, portion striker Matthew Lusty is acceptable to pb the line.

Red Star Belgrade imaginable starting lineup:

Matheus; Seol, Erakovic, Veljkovic, Tiknizyan; Loizou, Elsnik, Abu Fani; Kostov, Duarte, Ivanic

Larne imaginable starting lineup:

Ferguson; Cosgrove, Bent, Ridley, Donnelly; Doherty, Gallagher, Graham; McEneff, Lusty, Sloan

We say: Red Star Belgrade 3-1 Larne (Red Star triumph 7-1 connected aggregate)

There is thing to suggest that Larne tin signifier 1 of the large European comebacks, and they present look the unenviable task of heading to Stadion Rajko Mitic.

Red Star volition look to instrumentality vantage of their demoralised opponents, and they could erstwhile again triumph by a comfy margin.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.