**TV/Stream:** Full live match coverage is available on TNT Sports.
**Radio:** Full live match commentary available via BBC Radio Newcastle (not online)
_Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (_[_@RokerReport_](http://twitter.com/RokerReport)_) and check out the player ratings after the full-time whistle at_ [_www.RokerReport.sbnation.com!_](http://www.rokerreport.sbnation.com/)
Just as last time, it was 53 years or so since our last game in a European competition; tonight we can say it’s been over half a century since Sunderland emptied itself of its population for an away fixture in Europe.
On that occasion we travelled to Portugal to take on Sporting Lisbon and today we travel to the same country to take on Torreense.
It hit me again while I watched the Champions League coverage over the last couple of days: it advertised the Europa League games coming up, and our badge was on it. Not sure I will get tired of that.
The timing of the game could go either way after our last outing against Brighton. The pressure has ramped up a little to pick up a result at Bournemouth on Sunday, so today could go some way to providing a platform to go into that. We could do with something to pick us up a little, and a win tonight would help with that cause.
Regis Le Bris made four changes for our opener in the competition, which surprised a few people. Not sure that level of rotation would come as a surprise for this one. It would have been interesting to know how last weekend’s result might have impacted the line-up tonight and on Sunday, but most of us are expecting several changes.
Our opponents are a strange prospect. They compete due to beating Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese Cup final last year, but they’re struggling this year in Portugal’s second tier - sitting 15th in the table. However, they did beat Lillestrom in the opening game of the competition and could be dangerous if we underestimate them.
But look, tonight is another game to signal how far we have come and another evening to enjoy. Also, I’m not sure this part of Portugal is going to have anything close to what they will see in the build-up to the match this evening. Hope everyone has a cracking day(s)/evening/couple of days!
The bookies have the Lads at 4/11 to win the game, while Torreense are a long 6/1 for the victory, and the draw is 15/4.
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