S.C.U Torreense go play Sunderland on Thursday for Europa League, and na first time the Portuguese second division side go host European home match. The club dey 35 miles north of Lisbon, and dem reach this season competition after dem shock Sporting to win Taca de Portugal for May.
Their league fixtures this season include meetings with the ‘B’ teams of Sporting, Benfica and Porto. But Torreense no be regular second division side for Europe, because dem don already visit Norwegian side Lillestrom on their European debut.
Andre Sabino, the club director of football and CEO, tell BBC Sport say: ‘This is a landmark moment.’ He add say: ‘It is something extraordinary for Torreense. These are clubs with huge histories, strong identities and enormous European experience.’
Torreense further games go be against Ferencvaros, Ararat-Armenia, Celtic, Real Sociedad, Lech Poznan and Olympiacos before end of January. Luis Tralhao na the manager, and his brother Joao dey work as assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. The club hope say dem no just wan make up numbers.
Sabino talk say: ‘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.’
Second-tier Beira-Mar play for 1999-2000 Uefa Cup, but dem be top-flight team when dem qualify. Torreense na the first team from second division to qualify by winning Taca de Portugal.
Portuguese football journalist and ex-Benfica goalkeeper Jose Delgado tell BBC Sport say: ‘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.’ He add: ‘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.’
After beating Lillestrom, Torreense don already pass wetin some people expect. Delgado talk say: ‘I thought that Torreense could go through the Europa League with no points. The truth is that they already have three points and that is something.’ He still talk say: ‘It’s something that I don’t think will ever happen again in Portuguese football. But Torreense has this.’
Portugal dey outside Uefa top five leagues, so every club for Champions League, Europa League or Conference League carry responsibility to perform well and earn ranking points for the nation. Delgado talk say: ‘For Portuguese football, everybody [thought it] was nice that a club like Torreense won the cup, but also we had some concerns.’ He add: ‘The first game everybody thought that Torreense had no chance against Lillestrom and they won. It was quite a good surprise. But it’s like a fairytale for Torreense because they are a small club.’
For Sunderland side, Regis Le Bris reinforce say him respect Torreense as Sunderland travel to Portugal. The Azul-grenás defeat Sporting 2-1 for Taça de Portugal final at end of May. Na the club first major domestic honour, and their Europa League qualification mark first time a team earn right to play for league phase of reformatted competition. They defeat Lillestrom 2-1 for their Europa League debut, and now fans of the club go back their side for their native country as dem make 47-mile trip to Leiria where dem host the Black Cats.
Sunderland mark their Europa League debut with 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar at Stadium of Light. The Portuguese minnows fit no be the most fear-inducing opposition on paper, but Le Bris men, who don lose their last three Premier League games, enter this clash with humility. Le Bris talk say: ‘We respect the opponent. José Fonte is part of our staff, and he has warned us that they are a very good team. They earned the right to be in this position, so we know we have to be ready.’
He continue: ‘They only lost 1-0 to Porto earlier this season, which shows their level. We have to focus on the game in front of us and make sure we are prepared for the challenge. It is always important to manage the schedule and use the depth of the squad well. Rotation will be necessary, but we also need to keep the squad strong.’
Le Bris still yarn: ‘We have prepared for this game like a Premier League fixture, with detailed analysis to understand how we can hurt their defence and create chances. The Premier League and the Europa League are relentless, so we have to maintain consistent standards.’
