Real Sociedad draw includes Lillestrøm and Torreense, second-tier cup winners and the father of Martin Odegaard coaching | OneFootball

Real Sociedad have discovered their eight Europa League league phase opponents, with Juventus, Lyon, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace joined by Lillestrøm and Torreense, viewed as the minnows.

According to Diario Vasco, both Lillestrøm and Torreense came from their countries' second tier in 2025 and qualified by winning their domestic cups.

Torreense stunned Sporting de Portugal on penalties, Stopira scoring, after a run with only one top-flight opponent. Coached by Luis Tralhao, they remain in the second tier, have two points from three, and lost the Super Cup to Oporto. Their Manuel Marques de Torres Verdes fails UEFA criteria and holds under 2,500, so home ties shift 100 kilometres to the Estadio del Algarve in Leiria, meaning Real will not travel to the Algarve.

Lillestrøm, a club near Oslo, are rebuilding after relegation to the second tier in 2025. They set a national record of 45 straight top-flight seasons from 1975 to 2019.

Another slump in 2024 preceded Hans Erik Odegaard, father of Martin Odegaard, taking charge, bringing promotion and an unforeseen 2025 cup. With the cup shifted to UEFA’s calendar, two champions emerged, Lillestrøm in 2025 and Bodo/Glimt last May after beating Brann on penalties, so no play-off was needed as Bodo were already in the Champions League.

Lillestrøm entered the Europa League in the final qualifying round and advanced by beating Egnatia. After 17 league games they are fourth, with injured John Kitolano out and prospects Harald Woxen, Henrik Melland and Gustav Nyheim plus Angolan winger Félix Va notable.

Source: Diario Vasco

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”