Betting Tip
A week ago in Serravalle, Larne FC controlled the game from the first minutes but scored their only goal late in the first half. Matthew Lusty could have completed a brace late on, but his 77th-minute goal was ruled out after a VAR review — Tre Fiori FC would not have recovered from a two-goal deficit. In effect, Gary Haveron's side showed part of their potential: they put pressure on the opposition penalty area (13:3 on shots and 5:0 on target), but lacked finishing sharpness because of poor physical condition. Larne FC's opening match of the current season was also goalless — in the Northern Ireland Super Cup, they and Coleraine FC failed to score (3:2 after penalties). The Reds are not afraid to press with a three-man defence — the ball often goes through the centre-backs, while full-backs Sean Graham and Tomas Cosgrove regularly cross into the opposition box.
Tre Fiori FC had still not played a single match (not even a friendly) before the start of European qualifying. Before the first meeting with Larne FC, the San Marino champions had not played for a month and a half, and before that they had been inactive for another month. Danilo Girolomoni's side used a similar three-man defence against the Northern Irish team, but the next line of four midfielders rarely created anything going forward. Tre Fiori FC's only task away from home is to sit deep and rely on counter-attacks.
Neither team are likely to go beyond the second round of Champions League qualifying — their combined market value barely exceeds EUR5 million. At home, Larne FC should book their place in the quarter-finals of qualifying, but a glut of goals should not be expected. Like Tre Fiori FC, the Northern Irish champions are struggling to get going after the break.