Sunderland hope to enjoy warmth in Portugal after 53 years away
Sunderland face Torreense in Leiria on Thursday, their first competitive match on European soil in 53 years. The Europa League tie offers Régis Le Bris’s side a chance to rebuild confidence after a difficult Premier League start, with a domestic trip to Bournemouth on Sunday.
Torreense, a second-tier Portuguese club, earned their European place by winning last season’s Portuguese Cup and beat Lillestrom 2-1 in their opening phase. Their own ground is too small for Uefa requirements, so the game has moved to a stadium holding 23,888, where almost 4,000 Sunderland supporters are expected. Sunderland have one league win from six games, though those fixtures included the current top four; injuries and squad concerns add to the pressure.
- Sunderland return to European competition after 53 years.
- Almost 4,000 fans are travelling to the match in Leiria.
- The tie comes amid a tough Premier League start.
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Sunderland and Torreense are meeting in European competition, which brings together clubs from different national leagues. Sunderland are an English club, while Torreense play in Portugal’s second division; Torreense qualified by winning the Portuguese Cup.
Torreense’s home ground does not meet European competition requirements, so the match is being played in a larger stadium in Leiria. Sunderland have not played a competitive match in Europe for 53 years, and the fixture comes during a challenging start to their Premier League season.
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