Sunderland face Portuguese second-tier side Torreense in Europa League

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 09:02 · Archive

Sunderland play Portuguese second-tier club Torreense in the Europa League on Thursday, 53 years after the Black Cats last competed in Europe.

Sunderland play Torreense in the Europa League on Thursday night, marking the Black Cats' return to competitive European football after 53 years away. The Portuguese second-tier club qualified for the competition by winning the Taca de Portugal final in May, beating top-flight Sporting 2-1 with a penalty in extra time.

Torreense, located 35 miles north of Lisbon, are making their Europa League debut. Their home ground holds only 2,431 spectators, below Uefa regulations, so the match has been moved to Leiria, about an hour's drive away. Almost 4,000 Sunderland fans are travelling to the 23,888-capacity Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa in the medieval town.

Torreense sit 15th in the Portuguese second division with six points from seven games. Sunderland have made an underwhelming Premier League start with one win, against Fulham. Régis Le Bris is expected to rotate his squad ahead of a visit to Bournemouth on Sunday. Torreense's director of football Andre Sabino told BBC Sport: 'We don't want to simply participate. We want to compete,' despite facing clubs with 'huge histories' and 'enormous European experience'.

How it is being reported

• The Portuguese second-tier team hosting Sunderland in EuropePortuguese second-tier side Torreense host Sunderland in the Europa League in what will be their first ever European home match.BBC Sport · 15 Oct, 08:30
• Sunderland hope to enjoy warmth in Portugal after 53 years awayBlack Cats can reboot season against Torreense in Europa League in break from tough start to the Premier League There is a pleasing symmetry about Sunderland’s Europa League trip to Portugal to face Torreense on Thursday night. The club’s last competitive venture on European soil, 53 years ago, was the second leg of a European Cup Winners’ Cup second-round tie against Sporting in Lisbon for the FA Cup holders, then in the Second Division. In a striking parallel, second-tier Torreense prompted widespread surprise by beating Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final last season. The reward was a…The Guardian · 14 Oct, 12:00

In this story: Sunderland · Torreense · Sporting · Portugal · Lisbon · Leiria · Régis Le Bris

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