Torreense to play European football while in second division

Torreense to play European football while in second divisionImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Torreense were looking to return to the Portuguese top flight for the first time since 1991-92ByAlex BrothertonBBC Sport journalistPublished3 minutes agoPortuguese Cup winners Torreense will join an exclusive group of second division clubs to play in European competitions after they suffered play-off final defeat.Torreense secured a place in the league phase of the 2026-27 Uefa Europa League with a stunning 2-1 win against Sporting CP in the final of the Portuguese Cup on Sunday.After winning a first major trophy in their 109-year history and finishing third in the Portuguese second division, Torreense had the chance to secure promotion to the top flight via the play-offs.They faced Casa Pia - who finished 16th in the top flight - over two legs. However, after a goalless first leg, they lost 2-0 away from home on Thursday.That means Torreense - who are from Torres Vedras, a town 25 miles north of Lisbon, and play in a stadium that holds about 2,500 spectators - will play European football next season as a second division club.Because their 2,500-seater home stadium does not meet Uefa's requirements, they will play their matches 193 miles away at the Estadio Algarve in Faro.Other clubs that have already secured their place in the league phase of the Europa League include Bournemouth, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Juventus, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.Second tier clubs to play in EuropeThere are more examples of second tier sides playing in Uefa competitions than you might think.Torreense will not be the only second division club competing in Europe next season - Vestri, based in a village of less than 3,000 people, beat Valur in the 2025 Icelandic Cup final. They will enter the Europa League in the first qualifying round.Liechtenstein's FC Vaduz have spent much of the 21st century playing in the Swiss second division, but are regular participants in the Euro...