Sunderland end 53-year European exile with Europa League test at Torreense

Black Cats return to Europe after five decades

Sunderland travel to Portugal this week to face second-tier minnows Torreense in the Europa League, bringing to an end a 53-year absence from European competition. The tie has been switched to the Municipal Stadium in Leiria, almost 47 miles from Torreense's home in Torres Vedras, after their own Estadio Manuel Marques failed Uefa's stadium criteria (as reported by The Guardian on 14 October).

The region is dominated by an imposing series of forts and military defences built in 1809-10 and known as the Lines of Torres Vedras, erected to defend Lisbon from French invaders during the Peninsular War. Torreense are hoping to demonstrate similarly stout resistance against a Sunderland side led by a Frenchman and staffed heavily by French-speaking players.

Threats for Sunderland to beware

Sunderland have reason to be wary of Stopira, Torreense's influential 38-year-old captain and left-back, who played for Cape Verde at this summer's World Cup, along with their gifted playmaker João Marques and Ghanaian striker Malik Abubakari.

Torreense arrive in the competition after stunning Sporting to win the Taca de Portugal in May, with Stopira scoring the decisive penalty in extra time of a 2-1 final victory. The minnows have already beaten Lillestrom on their European debut and sit on three points from their opening fixture.

Pressure mounting on Le Bris

Sunderland's Europa League trip arrives against an underwhelming opening to their Premier League campaign, one featuring a single win, against fellow strugglers Fulham. With a visit to Bournemouth, who sit 8th and a point above Sunderland, on Sunday, manager Régis Le Bris is expected to rotate.

Quiet concern could turn to panic for Sunderland, whose season risks unravelling amid key injury absences and a reshuffled set-piece department, with trips to Bournemouth and Lech Poznan looming. The challenge for Sunderland is to use this last blast of southern European warfare to steady a campaign that has started to wobble.