TORREENSE PREVIEW
After suffering our third domestic loss in the Premier League, to Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls on Saturday, the Lads are on their travels as the second matchday of the UEFA Europa League comes around. We are in Portugal and will be hoping to put Saturday’s disappointment behind us to record a second win in as many games in our bid to make the knockout stages of the tournament which was won by Aston Villa last season.
OUR OPPONENTS
The opponent in question is SC Torreense, a team that few outside Portugal have known about. The Blue Garnets, as they are nicknamed, are making their debut in European competition and, like the Lads, won their opening game of the Europa League where they defeated Norwegians Lillestrom 2-1 on matchday one.
They qualified for the Europa League with a win in the Portuguese equivalent of the FA Cup, defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s first side Sporting Lisbon 2-1 to win only their second major trophy: all this whilst plying their trade in the second tier of the Portuguese league structure. They are still playing at this level and have become the first non-top division club side in Europe to play in the new Europa League format since it was revamped in 2024.
Their squad is captained by veteran full back Stopira who featured in the recent FIFA World Cup for Cabo Verde, and an international colleague of own Wilson Isidor in winger Dany Jean. Jean is also their joint top scorer this season, alongside fellow winger Manu Pozo, with two goals apiece. They, like ourselves, haven’t had the best domestic start and lie 15th in the standings of 18 clubs. It makes for an interesting match.
THE LADS
As stated, the domestic form for the Lads has been very much 'second season syndrome' at the present and we’re in 17th place. That said, we have played both Arsenal and Manchester City and most recently: a Brighton side that is quite simply flying at the moment.
Therefore, the Europa League is a nice distraction to have at present.
Enzo Le Fée netted a calmly struck spot kick in our first Europa League fixture to see off an impressive AZ Alkmaar; can the Lads make it two wins from two? We will have to do this without Dan Ballard, Habib Diarra for sure. Thomas Meunier was forced off after just 34 minutes on Saturday so will be very doubtful to feature. The question is, has the match come too quickly for “Big Bad Bri” to make his comeback? I’m expecting this to be the side on duty:
Roefs
Hume Mukiele Danso Reinildo
Xhaka Sadiki
N.Angulo Le Fée Fofana
Isidor
THE OFFICIAL IN CHARGE
Thursday’s official in charge is Albanian Enea Jorgji. The 42 year old has been a FIFA referee since 2012 and recently refereed the Nations League Group C4 fixture between Luxembourg and Iceland; which the visiting nation won 3-0. Since 2008, he has officiated 465 matches and handed out over 2000 yellow cards. The Albanian has awarded 101 red cards for two cautions, 83 straight reds and 156 penalties in the same period.
