Larne suffered a 4-0 Champions League defeat to Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, but manager Gary Haveron insisted his players showed pride despite the heavy loss. The Inver Reds, sitting top of the Northern Ireland Premiership with 73 points from 33 games, entered the second qualifying round first leg at Inver Park knowing the step up in class would be steep. Red Star led 1-0 at half-time through a Bruno Duarte penalty, then added three more in the second half as Larne’s defensive shape crumbled under pressure. The visitors wrapped up the tie with goals from Duarte, Vasilije Kostov and Muhammed Cham, leaving Larne to regroup ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg in Belgrade.
What happened in Larne’s Champions League opener?
Haveron told BBC Sport NI he was extremely proud of his side’s first-half display, despite the deficit. “For long stages in the first half we frustrated them and were probably a bit disappointed to come in one down given the soft penalty,” he said. The manager praised the team’s discipline and shape early on, but admitted Larne got caught up in the occasion after the break. “When you give a quality team space in behind, they can hurt you,” he added. “And did that in a 10-minute spell when they scored two goals and killed the tie.”
Larne’s recent form reads WWDDW, with a 2-game winning run and a league record of 22 wins, 7 draws and 4 losses. Their 8-0 thrashing of Dungannon Swifts on 25 April remains their biggest win of the season, while they lead Glentoran by four points at the summit.
Why this defeat is still a win for Larne
Haveron stressed this was always a learning opportunity rather than a realistic chance of progression. “Our ceiling wasn’t the Champions League,” he said. “Winning the first game [against Tre Fiori] gave us an opportunity in the Europa League, gave us an opportunity in the Conference League that gives us a level of football we can be competitive in.” Larne have already made group stages before, in 2024/25, but Haveron knows luck with the draw is part of the battle. The manager framed the experience as a chance to grow, saying next week’s trip to Belgrade will “stand to us going into the rest of the season.”
The side have scored 60 goals and conceded 22, with a +38 goal difference keeping them clear at the top. Their next domestic fixture is on Saturday against Coleraine, but all eyes will be on the Europa League path should they progress past Red Star.
Larne’s next steps: Europe or domestic focus?
Larne return to action on Saturday, but their European focus remains on next Wednesday’s second leg in Belgrade. Haveron accepts the step up is enormous, yet sees value in the exposure. “It’s about the occasion, the experience and performance,” he said. The manager’s message was clear: take the positives, learn from the mistakes, and push on in whichever competition awaits.
With 73 points from 33 games, Larne sit four clear of Glentoran and boast the league’s best goal difference. Their recent run of three wins and two draws in five matches shows momentum, but Europe now demands their full attention.
