Red Star Belgrade put four goals past Larne FC at Inver Park on July 21, dismantling the Northern Irish side in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.
The mismatch on the pitch
Larne FC had just reached the Champions League second qualifying round for the first time in its history, having scraped past Tre Fiori of San Marino with a 3-1 aggregate victory in the prior round.
Red Star Belgrade won the European Cup back in 1991 and most recently appeared in the Champions League group stage during the 2024-25 season.
Pre-match commentary described the fixture as a “free hit” for Larne, a polite way of saying nobody expected them to advance. The 4-0 result at Inver Park essentially confirmed that assessment, giving Red Star a commanding lead heading into the second leg.
