The UEFA Champions League first qualifying round will get underway this week, and HJK Helsinki will be looking to get off to a positive start when they welcome Larne to Bolt Arena on Wednesday.
The hosts will begin their quest to reach the main tournament for the first time since the 1998-99 season, while the visitors will be making their maiden qualifier appearance here and will be hoping to earn their first-ever Champions League berth at the first time of asking.
Match preview
© Reuters
Last season HJK Helsinki successfully defended their Veikkausliiga title for the third time in a row, and for the second successive season, they edged out KuPS to the crown by a solitary point.
Now 32 times champions of Finland, the hosts have found it a little more difficult so far this term, currently in third place in the league with 28 points after 16 matches, and while they are only three points behind SJK at the top, they have played two more games than the current leaders.
Toni Koskela's men come into this match following a 1-0 loss to FC Lahti last week, which was their third league match without a win, following consecutive 1-1 draws to Haka and Honka the previous week.
While they have only taken two points from the last nine on offer, that loss against FC Lahti was HJK Helsinki's first on home soil for the season, and they still have the second-best home record of any side in Veikkausliiga, with five wins, two draws and just one loss in eight matches at Bolt Arena.
The hosts had a dismal run in the UEFA Europa League last season, managing just one point in their six matches and finishing bottom of their group, but with a favourable draw here, they will fancy their chances of securing a solid lead to take into the second leg.
Meanwhile, it was as recently as 2017 that Larne were languishing at the bottom end of the second tier; the club had major financial problems, and Inver Park was lucky to see even 50 supporters attending matches.
Club owner Kenny Bruce made a bold statement that season, saying that he wanted to hear the Champions League music played at their East Antrim ground one day, and his side kept that dream alive by winning the NIFL Premiership for the first time in their 134-year history last season.
Larne recorded 83 points in their 38 league matches, ending six points clear of Linfield in second place and four spots up from the fifth-placed finish that they managed the season before.
In addition, the visitors had the best away record by some distance last season, taking 42 of a potential 60 points, with a record of 13 wins, three draws and four losses in 20 matches on the road.
Tiernan Lynch's success last season was largely attributable to his side's excellent defensive performances, conceding the league's lowest tally of just 22, and it would come as no surprise if they set up to shut out their opponents in this one.
Team News
© Reuters
Koskela will have to make do without the defensive pairing of Valtteri Moren and Oliver Pettersson, as both have been ruled out with knee injuries and will likely miss the return fixture as well.
Bojan Radulovic is enjoying the season of his life this term, netting 10 times in 13 matches already this season, and he will almost certainly lead the line in this one while Santeri Hostikka, Kai Meriluoto and Roope Riski will have to compete for the remaining two spots in the three-man frontline.
With the NIFL Premiership only set to resume next month, Lynch has had to make do with five pre-season friendlies coming to this match, and it will be interesting to see the type of formation he puts out against this opposition.
Among the players that could be included in the starting 11 for Lynch's side is Newcastle United Under-21 prospect Isaac Westendorf, who has already made a positive impression at his new club by scoring a quickfire brace in their last match against Ballyclare Comrades.
Leroy Millar and Paul O'Neill scored three and two times respectively in their 6-0 win over Bangor FC at the end of last month and should continue in midfield for this crucial encounter.
HJK Helsinki possible starting lineup:
Ost; Tenho, Peltola, Raitala; Soiri, Tanaka, Lingman, Keskinen; Hostikka, Radulovic, Riski
Larne possible starting lineup:
Ferguson; Want, Cosgrove, Bolger, Glynn; Gordon, Millar, O'Neill, Kelly; Ryan, Westendorf
We say: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Larne
Despite carrying poor form into this match, HJK Helsinki's experience at this level could be telling in this first leg. The visitors will relish this opportunity, and while securing a win may be too much of an ask in Finland, we fancy that they will give an excellent account of themselves and will get on the scoresheet, which will set up the second leg very nicely.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
