Irish Premiership: Will Irish League clubs make more European history?

After winning their third league title in four years, Larne kick-start their European campaign with a trip to San Marino to face Tre Fiori in the first round of the Champions League qualifying matches on 7 July, before the home game the following week.

The San Marino Champions, who won the Campionato Sammarinese by one point last campaign, have had a busy off season with 11 players leaving the club and eight new signings.

Larne will take confidence that, in 2020, Linfield faced Tre Fiori with the Blues progressing to the next round of Champions League qualifiers with a 2-0 win in Nyon.

The Inver Reds have now competed in Europe for the last six years and, two seasons ago, made history by beating Lincoln Red Imps to qualify into the Conference League.

“The players want to get back there and experience it again, as the six individual games are a fantastic experience,” Gary Haveron said.

“When you are in the knockout stages, the next game could be your last one and there is a lot at stake but, once you make group stages, you could plan your schedule around the individual games. Every single one of the games was a huge event and a big moment in the club’s history.

“Every time you step foot on the pitch in Europe, you are trying to create history for the club and the country and I think Larne have done that really well.”

If they lose this tie, Larne’s European adventure will not be over as they will drop into the third round of the Uefa Conference League.