Sunderland’s first European away trip in 53 years takes the Lads to Portugal to face SCU Torreense in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. The historic fixture at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria kicks off at 5.45pm UK time, a significant moment for a club currently sitting 17th in the Premier League with four points from six games.

The historic return

Sunderland’s last continental away match was against Sporting CP in the 1973/74 Cup Winners’ Cup. This week’s Europa League league phase game, following a battling home win over AZ Alkmaar last month, represents a long-awaited return to that stage. The club’s domestic form has been mixed, with recent results showing two wins and three losses in their last five outings, including a 2-0 defeat to Brighton last weekend.

The Portuguese opponents

Torreense, founded in 1917, qualified for Europe by winning the Portuguese Cup last season in dramatic fashion. They beat Sporting CP 2-1 in the final on 24 May 2026, with Stopira scoring a 113th-minute penalty to seal the win. That victory made them the first team to lift the cup while playing outside Portugal’s top flight. They enter the Europa League league phase directly and began their campaign with a 2-1 away win against Lillestrom in September. The match against Sunderland will be played in Leiria because Torreense’s usual home, the Estadio Manuel Marques in Torres Vedras, has a capacity under 2,500 and does not meet UEFA regulations.

The venue and the visit

The Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa was built for Euro 2004 and has a capacity of just under 25,000. It is about a 25-minute walk from Leiria’s historic city centre, which the club’s away guide recommends as a base for visiting supporters. The weather forecast for matchday predicts temperatures upwards of 25 degrees. For fans making the trip, the region offers nearby attractions including the Batalha Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the coastal city of Nazare, famous for its giant winter waves.

Sunderland will be looking to their top scorer Brian Brobbey, who has three goals this season, to make an impact in Portugal. The match offers a welcome distraction from a challenging league start where the team has conceded 12 goals. After the European fixture, attention turns to a key Premier League encounter away to 18th-placed Bournemouth on Sunday.

Read the full report at Roker Report