Santa Clara vs Larne Predictions

• Santa Clara won 3-0 in the first leg of this Conference League qualifying tie, scoring all three of their goals in the first half
• Larne have failed to score in four of their six matches this season
• The Azoreans have won four of their last six competitive games

Santa Clara can cruise into play-off round

Having been routed 3-0 by Santa Clara in the first leg of their Conference League qualifying third-round tie, a poor week went from bad to worse for Larne on Sunday, when they were beaten 1-0 by likely title rivals Coleraine in their Northern Irish Premiership opener. 

Nathan Rooney would love to mastermind a monumental comeback when he takes his side to Ponta Delgada for the second leg on Thursday, but there was nothing in Larne’s performances last week to suggest he can. 

The Northern Irish outfit managed just a solitary shot on target in each of those defeats and it is hard to see anything other than a Santa Clara win playing out this week. 

Larne looking short of ideas

With Larne struggling to create in attack, it is hard to see anything other than a one-sided affair playing out. Santa Clara racked up six shots on target in the first leg and, even if easing off slightly thanks to a three-goal cushion, they are still a cut and a half above their visitors. 

It took just 36 minutes for the Azoreans to take a 3-0 lead last week and they should make a similarly fast start this time around. 

They may not be so ruthless, with one eye on rectifying their league form following a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Famalicao in their Primeira Liga opener on Sunday, so a 2-0 home win appeals for a correct-score bet.