Red Star Belgrade secures Champions League third‑round berth
Red Star Belgrade eliminated Northern Irish side Larne with a 5‑0 victory in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League second‑round qualifiers, making the aggregate score 9‑0 and confirming progression to the third qualifying round. Aleksandar Katai opened the scoring in the third minute, Marko Arnautović added two goals (45+4 and 60 minutes), Loizos Loizu struck in the 49th minute and Osman Bukari finished in the 79th minute.
Coach Dejan Stanković confirmed that Vasilije Kostov would not start because of an adductor problem and praised the squad’s discipline and readiness for the next challenge. The Serbian champions will face Israeli club Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the upcoming third‑round tie, a match that could bring a potential €15 million in earnings if they advance further.
The win was celebrated by the club’s supporters and highlighted as a historic continuation of Red Star’s European campaign, marking the tenth successive season the team has reached a UEFA competition’s qualifying stage.
Entities: Aleksandar Katai · Dejan Stanković · Derik Lukasen · FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) · Hapoel Be'er Sheva · Hapoel Be’er Sheva · Larn · Larne · Larne FC · Marko Arnautović · Rade Krunić · Red Star Belgrade
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 17 SOURCES] Aleksandar Katai scored the opening goal for Red Star in the second leg. (existing)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Red Star will face Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the third qualifying round. (existing)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Red Star's aggregate score over two legs versus Larne is 9‑0. (existing)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Marko Arnautović scored two goals for Red Star in the second leg. (existing)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Loizos Loizu scored a goal for Red Star in the second leg. (existing)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Osman Bukari scored the final goal for Red Star in the second leg. (existing)
- [● 18 SOURCES] Coach Dejan Stanković announced that Vasilije Kostov would not start the match because of an adductor injury. (existing)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Red Star defeated Larne 5‑0 in the second leg of the Champions League qualifying round. (All match summaries give the 5‑0 scoreline.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Red Star qualified for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. (Red Star)
- [● 17 SOURCES] Red Star beat Larne 5‑0 in the second leg of the Champions League qualifying round. (multiple)