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

After winning their third league title in four years, Lern ​​begin their European campaign with a trip to San Marino on July 7 to face Tre Fiori in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers, before a home game the following week.

The San Marino champions, who won the Campionato Samarinz by a point last campaign, had a busy off-season with 11 players leaving the club and eight new signings.

Lern will be confident that, in 2020, Linfield faced Tre Fiori with the Blues and advanced to the next round of the Champions League qualifiers with a 2-0 win at Nyon.

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

“The players want to go back there and experience it again, because six individual games is a great experience,” Gary Havron said.

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

“Every time you step on a pitch in Europe, you’re trying to make history for club and country and I think Lerne has done that really well.”

If they lose this tie, Larne’s European adventure will not be over as they will be relegated to the third round of the UEFA Conference League.