The Portuguese second-tier team hosting Sunderland in Europe

Portuguese second-tier side Torreense have not played top-flight football since the 1991-92 campaign, but are making their debut in the Europa League this season [Getty Images] S.C.U Torreense's league fixtures this season include meetings with the 'B' teams of Sporting, Benfica and Porto. But the Portuguese second division club, located 35 miles north of Lisbon, are in this season's Europa League after stunning giants Sporting to win the Taca de Portugal in May. "This is a landmark moment," Andre Sabino, the club's director of football and CEO tells BBC Sport. Torreense have never played a European home match before but will end that run on Thursday when they host Sunderland (17:45 BST). Having already visited Norwegian side Lillestrom on their European debut, Torreense have further games against Ferencvaros, Ararat-Armenia, Celtic, Real Sociedad, Lech Poznan and Olympiacos before the end of January. Managed by Luis Tralhao, whose brother Joao is currently serving as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, the club are hoping to do more than just make up the numbers. "It is something extraordinary for Torreense. These are clubs with huge histories, strong identities and enormous European experience," Sabino adds. "To be able to share the same competition and compete against them is a privilege. But we don't want to simply participate. We want to compete." 'Something that won't happen again in Portuguese football' Torreense captain and Cape Verde international Stopira (pictured above) scored a penalty in extra time as his side beat Sporting 2-1 in the Taca de Portugal final earlier this year [Getty Images] Second-tier Beira-Mar played in the 1999-2000 Uefa Cup, although they were a top-flight team at the time of qualifying. But Torreense are the first team from the second division to qualify by winning the Taca de Portugal. "The Portuguese Cup has been played since 1938 in its current model and it was the first time that a second division team won it," Portuguese football journalist and ex-Benfica goalkeeper Jose Delgado tells BBC Sport. "You can imagine when they could defeat a giant club like Sporting in the final, it was quite a surprise and for the city, it's something very, very special." After beating Lillestrom, they have already exceeded the expectations of some. "I thought that Torreense could go through the Europa League with no points," adds Delgado. "The truth is that they already have three points and that is something. "It's something that I don't think will ever happen again in Portuguese football. But Torreense has this." With Portugal ranked outside Uefa's top five leagues, every club in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League has a responsibility to perform well to earn their nation important ranking points. "For Portuguese football, everybody [thought it] was nice that a club like Torreense won the cup, but also we had some concerns," says Delgado. "The first game everybody thought that Torreense had no chance against Lillestrom and they won. It was quite a good surprise. But it's like a fairytale for Torreense because they are a small club." A 150km round-trip for home matches Torreense's Estadio Manuel Marques has a capacity smaller than 45 of the 48 clubs in England's sixth tier [Getty Images] As their 2,431-capacity home at Estadio Manuel Marques does not pass Uefa's stadium criteria, they will instead face Sunderland almost 47 miles away at the Municipal Stadium in Leiria. "Obviously, it is not ideal," Sabino explains. "Playing at home should mean playing in your own stadium, in front of your own supporters and in the environment that represents your club. "But at the same time, we understand the logistical and regulatory requirements involved in European competition. "We have to look at the bigger picture. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Europa League, and we will make Leiria feel as much like home as possible." The additional travel has not deterred supporters from watching their beloved club face big European names. "Our supporters and our people are what make a home, regardless of the kilometers. The response from our supporters has been fantastic," Sabino adds. "They understand that this is a historic moment for Torreense and they want to experience it with us. "We hope to see Leiria filled with Torreense colours and feel that support from the first minute." A £4.2m windfall Torreense pocketed 630,000 euros (£533,000) for their win over Lillestrom last month [Getty Images] Torreense missed out on a return to Portugal's top division for the first time since 1991-92 after a 2-0 two-legged defeat by Casa Pia in a promotion/relegation play-off in May. But qualification for the Europa League's league phase guarantees a financial injection of at least 5m euros (£4.2m). Every positive result and extra round reached adds more to that pot. "For a club like Torreense, it is a very significant amount," Sabino explains. "It gives us an opportunity to strengthen the club in several areas and to accelerate projects that otherwise would naturally take much longer. "However, we have to be very responsible. Success can create opportunities, but it also creates responsibilities. "Our objective is not simply to spend more because we have more resources. We want to invest intelligently, strengthen the structure of the club and create conditions for sustainable growth." 19 new recruits from 10 different countries Torreense played competitively against Sporting's main and 'B' teams last season, something they will also do this year against Porto [Getty Images] Torreense have already made 19 new signings from across the globe. As well as turning to Portugal's top flight for five new recruits, other signings have come from France, Greece, Spain, Serbia, Portugal, Brazil, Denmark, Morocco and Germany. The majority from outside those countries' top leagues. Of their 32-man senior squad, just four are Portuguese. "It has been a very different challenge," Sabino explains. "European football changes the perception of the club and naturally makes Torreense more attractive to certain players, but it also increases expectations." Last season, Torreense missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference before losing the play-off. This term they have won only one of their opening seven league games. With the overwhelming majority of football fans in Portugal supporting one of the 'big three' of Porto, Benfica and Sporting - Delgado says sometimes home fans even cheer for their more illustrious opponents when they visit. "Right now I think that there is a great sympathy about Torreense, but I don't think they will get many more [fans] because of this presence," he adds. "Maybe this presence will make some investors look at them in a different way and put some money in the club." Time to rise? Ranking European football's sleeping giants The 'Kane-esque' striker Spurs may regret letting go Euro Leagues