That means over the next few days Pompey fans will be scrambling around trying to secure tickets to the historic clashes with Portuguese club Vitoria SC.

To make it easier The News today tells you all you need to know about Pompey's European adventure.

First leg – Thursday September 18, 6pm, Fratton Park.

>>> Tickets have already gone on sale to season ticket holders, priced at £20 for adults, £10 for seniors and £5 for juniors.

>>> Last Thursday fans in the Fratton End were able to buy tickets while yesterday it was the turn of those who sit in the South Stand Upper and Family stands.

>>> Supporters in North Stand Upper will be able to buy their tickets for the game on Monday and Tuesday for those in North Stand Lower.

>>> Tickets will then go on sale to Pompey members from Wednesday, September 10, and on general sale from Thursday, but fans will need to be on Pompey's database and have a client reference number.

>>> Tickets for the first leg clash at Fratton Park are available from Ticketmaster on 0844 847 1898 between 10am and 6pm or from the club's ticket office in Rodney Road, between 9.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.


Second leg – Thursday October 2, 9.30pm, Estádio D. Afonso Henriques

>>> Pompey have organised packages for fans with Thomson Sport for the second leg clash in the north of Portugal, which have already gone on sale.

>>> The packages include a match ticket, return flights and transfers in Portugal for £369. The club have also given fans the option of spending £399, which includes a night in a three-star hotel, or £429 for a four-star hotel. To book through Thomson go to www.portsmouthfc.co.uk and follow the link.

>>> Pompey will get 3,000 tickets initially but are hopeful Vitoria will eventually give them around 5,000.

>>> Pompey have not yet released details of how to buy tickets, apart from through Thomson.

>>> For those fans who are making their own way to the game the stadium is 32 miles away from the Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto, located just north-west of the city centre of Guimarães.

>>> Car hire companies, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National/ Alamo and Sixt, can all be found in the airport.

>>> If you are travelling by car take the A3 from Porto and turn off onto the A7. Leave the A7 at the Guimarães exit and turn onto the N206. Follow the N206 for 1km and turn left into the Rua Da Saudade. Follow the Rua de Saudade for 1.6 km into Guimarães and than turn into the Rua De São Gonçalo.

>>> Taxis are available from outside the airport in Porto 24 hours a day. Popular taxi firms include Invicta Radio Taxis do Porto and Radio Taxis Os Unidos. Tripadvisor.com advises people travelling to Portugal to use taxis instead of hire cars due to bad drivers.