Larne begins their Champions League qualifying journey against Tre Fiori on Tuesday, looking to make a strong start in the 2026-27 season. The Northern Irish outfit, currently leading the Premiership with 73 points and a 4-point gap over Glentoran, will face a Tre Fiori side that finished first in San Marino's top flight last term.

Match Preview

Tre Fiori narrowly beat Virtus to first place in their domestic league, with their return of 73 points seeing them finish ahead of their title rivals by just one point. The hosts have never advanced beyond the qualifiers of any UEFA tournament, with their last continental adventure ending when they suffered a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Pyunik in the first qualifying round of the 2025-26 Conference League. Larne, on the other hand, has a better European record, having reached the league phase of the Conference League in 2024-25 and won seven of their 22 continental clashes overall.

Team News

It is difficult to know exactly how Tre Fiori will line up, but perhaps goalkeeper Michele Nardi will be protected by central defenders Mattia Sancisi, Simone Rea, and Alex Sirri. Larne could look to field a three-man backline consisting of Sam McClelland, Matthew Ridley, and Aaron Donnelly, with Christopher Gallagher positioned at the base of a midfield three that also features Conor McKendry and Mark Randall.

What Comes Next?

Larne will look to win the first leg of their qualifying tie against Tre Fiori, and with their recent form, including a 3W-2D-0L record in their last five games, they will be confident of getting a positive result. The visitors' European record is considerably better than their hosts', and they will be looking to build on their strong recent form, which includes an 8-0 victory over Dungannon Swifts on April 25, 2026. With the 2026-27 season fast approaching, Larne will be eager to make a strong start in the Champions League qualifying campaign, and a win against Tre Fiori would be a great way to begin their journey.