Larne ace confident Red Star Belgrade experience will stand club in good stead for Premiership title defence bid

The Inver Reds created club history by progressing in the Champions League for the first time this month, beating Tre Fiori of San Marino in the first qualifying round – which set up a showdown with former European Cup winners Red Star.

Gary Haveron’s side lost out 4-0 in the first leg at Inver Park and will travel to the iconic Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade for the reverse fixture on Wednesday evening.

Red Star, who are managed by former Champions League winner and six-time Serie A champion Dejan Stanković, boast a star-studded squad with ex-Inter Milan striker Marko Arnautovic featuring off the bench – just 19 days after playing against eventual World Cup champions Spain for Austria.

Full-back Young-Woo Seol also started all three World Cup group matches for South Korea.

Larne have guaranteed themselves at least a Conference League play-off and will drop into the Europa League’s third qualifying round to face either Iberia 1999 of Georgia or Slovakia’s Slovan Bratislava, who lead 2-0 in their Champions League tie.

Red Star qualified for the Champions League’s League Phase in 2024/25, where they played against the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan, and Ridley feels facing quality opposition in Europe can boost domestic ambitions.

"It was always going to be an unbelievable experience, especially going into next week as well,” Ridley said on NIFL TV. “I don't think we've disgraced ourselves because the game could have got away from us early on.

"We held ourselves very well...they've shown class in the four goals, the boy has dropped the shoulder for the last (Muhammed Cham who joined on loan from Trabzonspor), that was the difference.

"You're not going to have Irish League players doing that to you, they have international footballers, like Arnautovic, the right-back who played for South Korea at the World Cup. That's what you're coming up against.

"We're making the most of it and it's going to be something that holds us in good stead for the season ahead...we're not going to be playing anyone anywhere near that level.

"You can get away with it in the Irish League, you can't get away with it at this level.

"These boys will probably be in the Champions League's League Phase this year...it's all a learning curve and experience.”

Larne are priced as mammoth underdogs by bookmakers ahead of their trip to Belgrade – a victory for Haveron’s men is available at 20/1 – and Ridley insists there’s no pressure on the visitors with the tie essentially over.

"It (second leg) will look the same, trying to make your shape as compact as possible,” he added. “It's important to take lessons into next week and how we can minimise the damage in a way but also cause a threat. There's no pressure on us.”