Torreense to host Sunderland in historic first European home game after cup shock

Portuguese minnows make European bow after stunning Sporting

Portuguese second-tier side S.C.U. Torreense have not played top-flight football since the 1991-92 campaign, but on Thursday they will make history by hosting Sunderland in their first-ever European home match (17:45 BST). The club from 35 miles north of Lisbon are making their debut in the Europa League this season after stunning giants Sporting to win the Taca de Portugal in May.

"This is a landmark moment," Andre Sabino, the club's director of football and CEO, told BBC Sport. Torreense have already exceeded expectations by beating Norwegian side Lillestrom on their European debut, pocketing 630,000 euros (£533,000) for the victory. They face further league-phase tests against Ferencvaros, Ararat-Armenia, Celtic, Real Sociedad, Lech Poznan and Olympiacos before the end of January.

A first for Portuguese football

Second-tier Beira-Mar played in the 1999-2000 Uefa Cup, but they were a top-flight team at the time of qualifying. Torreense are the first team from the second division to qualify by winning the Taca de Portugal.

"The Portuguese Cup has been played since 1938 in its current model and it was the first time that a second division team won it," Portuguese football journalist and ex-Benfica goalkeeper Jose Delgado told BBC Sport. "You can imagine when they could defeat a giant club like Sporting in the final, it was quite a surprise and for the city, it's something very, very special."

Torreense captain and Cape Verde international Stopira scored a penalty in extra time as his side beat Sporting 2-1 in the Taca de Portugal final earlier this year.

"I thought that Torreense could go through the Europa League with no points," Delgado added. "The truth is that they already have three points and that is something. It's something that I don't think will ever happen again in Portuguese football. But Torreense has this."

Managed by Luis Tralhao, whose brother Joao is currently serving as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, the club are hoping to do more than just make up the numbers. "To be able to share the same competition and compete against them is a privilege. But we don't want to simply participate. We want to compete," Sabino said.

A 150km round-trip for home matches

As their 2,431-capacity home at Estadio Manuel Marques does not pass Uefa's stadium criteria, Torreense will instead face Sunderland almost 47 miles away at the Municipal Stadium in Leiria. The Estadio Manuel Marques has a capacity smaller than 45 of the 48 clubs in England's sixth tier.

"Obviously, it is not ideal," Sabino explained. "Playing at home should mean playing in your own stadium, in front of your own supporters and in the environment that represents your club. But at the same time, we understand the logistical and regulatory requirements involved in European competition. We have to look at the bigger picture. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Europa League, and we will make Leiria feel as much like home as possible."

The additional travel has not deterred supporters. "Our supporters and our people are what make a home, regardless of the kilometers. The response from our supporters has been fantastic," Sabino added. "They understand that this is a historic moment for Torreense and they want to experience it with us. We hope to see Leiria filled with Torreense colours and feel that support from the first minute."

A £4.2m windfall

Qualification for the Europa League's league phase guarantees a financial injection of at least 5m euros (£4.2m), with every positive result and extra round reached adding more to the pot. Torreense missed out on a return to Portugal's top division for the first time since 1991-92 after a 2-0 two-legged defeat by Casa Pia in a promotion/relegation play-off in May.

"For a club like Torreense, it is a very significant amount," Sabino said. "It gives us an opportunity to strengthen the club in several areas and to accelerate projects that otherwise would naturally take much longer. However, we have to be very responsible. Success can create opportunities, but it also creates responsibilities. Our objective is not simply to spend more because we have more resources. We want to invest intelligently, strengthen the structure of the club and create conditions for sustainable growth."

19 new recruits from 10 different countries

Torreense have already made 19 new signings from across the globe, with recruits from France, Greece, Spain, Serbia, Portugal, Brazil, Denmark, Morocco and Germany, the majority from outside those countries' top leagues. Of their 32-man senior squad, just four are Portuguese.

Last season, Torreense missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference before losing the play-off. This term they have won only one of their opening seven league games, with league fixtures including meetings with the 'B' teams of Sporting, Benfica and Porto.