Brief
Sunderland set for Europa League clash in Portugal after 53‑year hiatus
The club will play Torreense at a relocated venue in Leiria after their last European appearance in 1973.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Sunderland will face Portuguese side Torreente in a Europa League first‑round match on Thursday, marking the club's first competitive European fixture since a 1973 Cup Winners' Cup tie in Lisbon, the Guardian reported.
What happened
The game was moved from Torreente's Estádio Manuel Marques in Torres Vedras to the Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria because the original stadium does not meet UEFA capacity rules. The Leiria venue can hold 23,888 spectators, compared with the 2,431‑seat Manuel Marques ground. Almost 4,000 Sunderland supporters are expected to travel to the match, staying in a range of accommodations from the luxury Logic hotel in Leiria to hotels in Lisbon, Porto and the pilgrimage town of Fatima.
What the reports add
The Guardian notes that Torreente, who earned their European place by beating Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final, are currently 15th in LigaPro with six points from seven games. Sunderland, meanwhile, have recorded only one Premier League win, against fellow strugglers Fulham, and face a tough domestic schedule with upcoming fixtures against Bournemouth and Leeds.
What was said
The article contains no direct quotations, but it records Sunderland's recent staff change: set‑piece coach James Brayne left on Tuesday and will be replaced by Thor Herdal, a 34‑year‑old who previously headed dead‑ball analysis at Nordsjælland.
How it came about
Sunderland's European return follows a season of mixed results. Earlier in the campaign they faced the current Premier League top four – Manchester City, Arsenal, Brighton and Brentford – in their first six league games. Their recent domestic form includes a 2‑0 loss to Brighton, where they played with ten men after Pascal Struijk was sent off, and a narrow defeat to Bournemouth is looming. The club's inability to sign a specialist right‑winger over the summer has forced manager Régis Le Bris to deploy natural right‑backs Trai Hume and Thomas Meunier in advanced roles. Injuries to forwards Brian Brobbey and Dan Ballard, as well as goalkeeper Robin Roefs's recent inconsistency, have added to the challenges.
Key facts
- Sunderland's Europa League match against Torreente is scheduled for Thursday night. (theguardian.com)
- The venue was switched to Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria because Torreente's home ground does not meet UEFA capacity rules. (theguardian.com)
- Almost 4,000 Sunderland fans are travelling to the match, staying in Leiria, Lisbon, Porto and Fatima. (theguardian.com)
- Torreente are 15th in Portugal's LigaPro with six points from seven games. (theguardian.com)
- Sunderland's set‑piece coach James Brayne left and will be replaced by Thor Herdal. (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “Sunderland hope to enjoy warmth in Portugal after 53 years away”
