Torreense-Ararat: Is the revolution a ‘Tulip’ that smells?

YEAH a Torreense in full state of boiling that, at the beginning of the night of Thursday, will measure forces with the Ararat-Armenia, at the Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Stadium, in Leiria, in meeting to count for the fourth day of the league phase of the Europa League, where the goal goes, of course, to surprise again.

Just five months after the history of winning the Cup of Portugal (before Sporting, in the tie for big penalties), Luís Tralhão was fired, following a start of the sport season of 2026/27 below expectations, and replaced by João Nuno, who still seeks to impose his ideas.

At the premiere last weekend, Amadora's former star broke a goalless tie with Portimonese in the Algarve. Now, at the age of 41, will perform the one that will be the first international game of the career, against a coach... he also Portuguese, in this case, the most experienced Manuel Tulipa.

The second divisional set, remember, contradicted all expectations by entering this ‘adventure’ with a victory over the Lillestrom, in the middle of Arasen Stadion, by 1-2, followed by a defeat in the reception to Sunderland, by 1-2, and another in the trip to the Groupama Arena, before Ferencvaros, by categorics 4-1.

This means that at this moment, three points are conquered in nine possible, as many as Anderlecht, Hoffenheim, AC Milan, OFI Crete, Celta de Vigo and Jagiellonia Bialystok, a record that leaves it in the 28th position of the table. From the front, you will have the 36th and final rank, with the same zero points of Viktoria Plzen, Marseille and Celtic.

The Torreense-Ararat-Armenia has an initial whistle scheduled for 8 p.m. (Hour of Continental Portugal), and will be whistled by Serbian Milos Milanovic, who will have Milan Pasajlic and Svetozar Zivin as assistants, as fourth referee Pavle Ilic, as VAR Aleksandar Zivkovic and as AVAR Pavle Tomic.

Coaches in direct speech

John Nuno

Image: “More than the results, Torreense has represented our football very well and we want to continue to give this image and be extremely competitive. In the Europa League, the initial expectations would be low and what Torreense has done, and it has to do with the previous coach, players and the entire structure of the club, is to represent Portuguese football very well.”

Relaxation: “If we went to the betting bag, we had no point and we were possibly going to end with zero. What games have shown has been different from that. We won't fall for that mistake. All Europe League games are seen as an opportunity. We have arrived where we have come on our own merit.”

Manuel Tulipa

Details: “Whoever best supports the details of the game, who focuses best on causing errors in the opponent and taking advantage to reattack will possibly win the game.”

New coach in Torreense: “ I made this decision to play with my identity, not thinking so much about the strategy for each game. We want to win, we want to help Armenia’s ranking [in the UEFA ranking] with points, but I’m worried that the team will not lose control.”

Last results

Torreense: D-D-D-V-E

Ararat-Armenia: V-D-V-V-V

Last elevens

Torreense: Lucas Paes; David Bruno, Volnei Feltes, Mohamed Diadié, Javi Vázquez; André Simões, Alejandro Alfaro, João Marques; Manuel Pozo, Dany Jean and Musa Drammeh.

Ararat-Armenia: João Bravim; Michel Ayvazyan, Alexandros Malis, Edgar Grigoryan; Karen Muradyan, Juan Balanta, Armen Ambartsumyan; Artur Serobyan, Zhirayr Shaghoyan and Sandro Lima.

Absence

Torreense: Adama Baradji (injured).

Ararat-Armenia: /