Sunderland face Torreense in Europa League away test

Sunderland travel to Portugal on Thursday to face Torreense in the Europa League, with the match moved from the visitors’ home ground because it does not meet UEFA’s stadium criteria. The clubs enter the league-phase game after each won its opening fixture, while Sunderland seek a response to a recent Premier League defeat. The match will be played at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria. Torreense’s Estádio Manuel Marques, in Torres Vedras, has a capacity of 2,431 and does not meet UEFA’s requirements for Europa League matches. The clubs had initially been set to play Torreense’s home fixtures at Estádio Algarve, but the venue was changed after supporters objected to the distance from Torres Vedras. Leiria is about 90 miles north of Lisbon. Sunderland have been allocated 3,990 away tickets. Torreense play in Portugal’s second division and qualified for Europe by winning the Portuguese Cup last season, their first major honour. They opened their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 win at Norwegian side Lillestrom. Sunderland began with a 1-0 home victory over AZ Alkmaar, secured by an Enzo Le Fée penalty.