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Sunderland hope to enjoy warmth in Portugal after 53 years away

Black Cats can reboot season against Torreense in Europa League in a break from tough start to domestic campaignThere is a pleasing symmetry about Sunderland’s Europa League trip to Portugal to face Torreense on Thursday night. The club’s last competitive venture on European soil, 53 years ago, was the second leg of a European Cup Winners’ Cup second-round tie against Sporting in Lisbon for the FA Cup holders, then in the Second Division.In a striking parallel, second-tier Torreense prompted widespread surprise by beating Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final last season. The reward was a place in the Europa League and their chances of reaching the next phase of the competition early next year were boosted when they beat Lillestrøm 2-1 in Norway last month. Continue reading...