Sunderland must find an immediate response in Europe after a demoralising 2-0 home defeat to Brighton left them 17th in the Premier League. Regis Le Bris's side now travel to face Portuguese second-tier club SCU Torreense in the Europa League on Thursday, needing a win to rebuild momentum.
Le Bris was blunt in his assessment after the Brighton loss at the Stadium of Light. "We felt we were not efficient at that moment," the manager said. Maxim De Cuyper opened the scoring for the visitors in the 53rd minute, with Pascal Gross providing the assist. Substitute Jaouen Hadjam sealed the win in the 90th, compounding a third straight league defeat for Sunderland after losses to Arsenal and Manchester City. This poor run of form means Sunderland have taken just one point from the last 18 available in the league.
The match saw Brighton's Pascal Struijk sent off for a foul on Wilson Isidor, but Sunderland could not capitalise on the numerical advantage. The result leaves the Black Cats with just four points from their opening six league matches, a worrying position detailed in the current standings. Their points total is only one more than 18th-placed Bournemouth.
European opportunity
Thursday's trip to Torreense represents a historic first European away fixture for Sunderland in over fifty years. They began their group stage campaign positively with a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar before the international break. Their opponents, 15th in Portugal's second division, pulled off a surprise 2-1 away win at Lillestrøm in their opening match.
Le Bris admitted his team must improve at both ends of the pitch. "We have to be better in the final third and also defensively," he stated, acknowledging Torreense's record of conceding fewer goals per game this season. The absence of top scorer Brian Brobbey, who has three goals in five appearances but missed the Brighton game with a hamstring injury, was keenly felt. His potential return is a major boost for the squad, which includes young talents like Malick Fofana and Dayann Methalie.
Sunderland's recent fixtures have been punishing, but this European tie offers a chance to reset. A positive result in Portugal is essential before a key Premier League meeting with 18th-placed Bournemouth next weekend. The full squad available for that trip can be seen on the club's squad page.
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