On Wednesday night Larne FC hosts HJK Helsinki at the Seaview Stadium in the Champions League first qualifying round second leg. The Finnish team bring a 1-0 first-leg lead into this crucial second leg.
The Northern Irish team have enjoyed mixed fortunes of late, but the first-leg defeat means that Larne has now lost two of their previous three matches in all competitions, having failed to score in both losses.
Take a look at the match highlights from last night’s narrow @ChampionsLeague defeat to HJK in Helsinki 🎥Get your tickets and travel for next week’s 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 second leg ➡️ https://t.co/paNsOLL8a8#WeAreLarne #ForTheTown pic.twitter.com/VGaiXsDeT1— Larne Football Club 🏆 (@larnefc) July 13, 2023
Take a look at the match highlights from last night’s narrow @ChampionsLeague defeat to HJK in Helsinki 🎥Get your tickets and travel for next week’s 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 second leg ➡️ https://t.co/paNsOLL8a8#WeAreLarne #ForTheTown pic.twitter.com/VGaiXsDeT1
However, the fact that they have won five of their last seven games, including recent friendly games, will at least send Tiernan Lynch’s team into this clash on the back of five wins in seven outings.
Larne also has a strong recent home record, as a 2-0 defeat by Crusaders in their last outing on home soil ended a five-game unbeaten run at home and also a three-game winning home streak.
The first leg was Larne’s Champions League debut. If they are to feature deeper in the competition, then they will need to up their game in this clash.
HJK heads into this clash on a mixed run of results, as the first-leg victory ended a short three-match winless run for the visitors in all competitions.
On the flip side, the Finnish visitors have lost just once in their previous 12 games in 90 minutes.
HJK have a poor recent record in the Champions League, as the first-leg win was only their second victory in seven matches over 90 minutes in European football’s elite competition.
The visitors have also found away wins difficult to come by of late in the Champions League, winning just once in their previous seven away matches in 90 minutes.
Forebet predicts that HJK Helsinki will record a comfortable victory in a high-scoring encounter to seal their progress to the second qualifying round of the competition.