Sunderland return to Europa League action this evening as they travel to Portugal to face Torreense in their first European away match since 1973.
Regis Le Bris’ side made a winning start to their European campaign last month, beating AZ Alkmaar 1-0 at the Stadium of Light thanks to a second-half penalty from Enzo Le Fee.
However, the Black Cats have struggled domestically, losing four of their opening six Premier League matches and sitting just one point above the relegation zone.
They were beaten 2-0 at home by Brighton last weekend and are still searching for their first away win of the season.
Torreense, meanwhile, have enjoyed a remarkable journey to European football despite playing in Portugal’s second division.
The club qualified for the Europa League after stunning Sporting CP in last season’s Portuguese Cup final and continued their impressive European story with a 2-1 win away to Lillestrom on matchday one, despite finishing with 10 men.
But their domestic form has been less convincing, with just one win from seven league matches leaving them 15th in the Portuguese second tier.
101GreatGoals brings you all the team news ahead of the 5.45pm kick-off.
Torreense team news
Torreense: Paes, Feltes, Diadie, Oudrhiri, Alfaro, Pozo, Zoabi, Vazquez, Abubakari, Marques, Mutombo
Torreense Substitutes: Adriel, Bjerre, Stopira, Maria, Jean, Aguirre, Drammeh, Bruno, Quintero, Guierreiro, Silva, Rijo
Sunderland team news
Sunderland: Roefs, Hume, O’Nien, Alderete, Methalie, Sadiki, Ahoka, Angulo, Rigg, Fofana, Tutierov
Sunderland Substitutes: Moore, Danso, Brobbey, Reinildo, Diarra, Mukiele, Le Fee, Xhaka, Whittaker, Ogunsuyi, Jones, Proctor
Europa League Table
UEFA Europa League 2026
World
| # | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Last 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Juventus |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
W
|
| 2 |
Crystal Palace |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
W
|
| 3 |
Sparta Praha |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
W
|
| 4 |
Beşiktaş |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
W
|
| 5 |
Union St. Gilloise |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
W
|
| 6 |
Ferencvarosi TC |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
W
|
| 7 |
Benfica |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
W
|
| 8 |
Bayer Leverkusen |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
W
|
| 9 |
OFI |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
W
|
| 10 |
Bournemouth |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
W
|
| 11 |
Lyon |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
W
|
| 12 |
Torreense |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
W
|
| 13 |
Olympiakos Piraeus |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
W
|
| 14 |
Red Bull Salzburg |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
W
|
| 15 |
Sunderland |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
W
|
| 16 |
Omonia Nicosia |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
W
|
| 17 |
Sturm Graz |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
D
|
| 18 |
Rennes |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
D
|
| 19 |
Dinamo Zagreb |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
D
|
| 20 |
Hapoel Beer Sheva |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
D
|
| 21 |
Jagiellonia |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
L
|
| 22 |
Real Sociedad |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
L
|
| 23 |
Anderlecht |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
L
|
| 24 |
Lillestrom |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
L
|
| 25 |
Celta Vigo |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
L
|
| 26 |
AZ Alkmaar |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
L
|
| 27 |
Levski Sofia |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
L
|
| 28 |
Celtic |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
L
|
| 29 |
1899 Hoffenheim |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
L
|
| 30 |
AC Milan |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
L
|
| 31 |
Celje |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
L
|
| 32 |
Marseille |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
L
|
| 33 |
Ararat-Armenia |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
L
|
| 34 |
Plzen |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
L
|
| 35 |
Lech Poznan |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
L
|
| 36 |
NEC Nijmegen |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
L
|
- Position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 : Promotion – Europa League (Play Offs: 1/8-finals)
- Position 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 : Promotion – Europa League (Play Offs: 1/16-finals)
Recent Form & Stats for Torreense v Sunderland
- This will be Sunderland’s first European away game since 1973.
- Sunderland beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 on matchday one, and Torreense won 2-1 at Lillestrøm.
- Sunderland have lost four of their first six Premier League games and are 17th, one point above the relegation zone.
- The Black Cats are winless away from home this season and haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last eight away games in all competitions.
- All three of Sunderland’s competitive wins this season have finished 1-0.
- Torreense qualified for Europe for the first time after beating Sporting CP in the 2025-26 Taça de Portugal final.
- This is the first competitive meeting between the clubs.
Prediction for Torreense v Sunderland
Despite their slow start to the Premier League season, Sunderland ought to be too strong for a side struggling in the Portuguese second tier.
Match Prediction
Torreense
Sunderland
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