The Portuguese second-tier team hosting Sunderland in Europe

Key points

• Torreense, a Portuguese second-division club, won the Taca de Portugal by beating Sporting in May to qualify for the Europa League.
• They will host Sunderland on Thursday at Leiria's Municipal Stadium because their own 2,431-capacity ground does not meet Uefa criteria.
• Europa League qualification guarantees at least 5m euros (£4.2m), and the club has already made 19 new signings.

S.C.U Torreense, a Portuguese second-division club based 35 miles north of Lisbon, are competing in the Europa League this season after winning the Taca de Portugal in May. The club stunned Sporting in the final to become the first second-tier team to win the competition since its current format began in 1938.

Torreense have never played a European home match before but will end that run on Thursday when they host Sunderland (17:45 BST). They have already visited Norwegian side Lillestrom on their European debut and have further games against Ferencvaros, Ararat-Armenia, Celtic, Real Sociedad, Lech Poznan and Olympiacos before the end of January.

Historic qualification and early results

The club's CEO and director of football, Andre Sabino, called the qualification a landmark moment. Torreense have already exceeded some expectations by beating Lillestrom, giving them three points in the league phase. Portuguese football journalist Jose Delgado said he thought Torreense could go through the Europa League with no points, adding that their win was a good surprise and that the team's presence in the competition is like a fairytale.

Delgado also noted that the Portuguese Cup has been played since 1938 and it was the first time a second division team won it. He said beating a giant club like Sporting in the final was quite a surprise and very special for the city.

We don't want to simply participate. We want to compete.

— Andre Sabino

Stadium move and financial impact

Because Torreense's 2,431-capacity home at Estadio Manuel Marques does not pass Uefa's stadium criteria, they will face Sunderland almost 47 miles away at the Municipal Stadium in Leiria. Sabino said playing at home should mean playing in your own stadium, but the club understands the logistical and regulatory requirements. He added that they will make Leiria feel as much like home as possible.

Qualification for the Europa League's league phase guarantees at least 5m euros (£4.2m), and every positive result and extra round reached adds more. Sabino said this is a very significant amount for a club like Torreense, giving them an opportunity to strengthen in several areas and accelerate projects. He stressed the need to invest intelligently and create conditions for sustainable growth.