Gent vs Tottenham - as it happened: Spurs shocked by Gent in Europa League defeat
Re-live all the action from the Ghelamco Arena
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After Tottenham's first Champions League campaign since 2011 came to an ignominious end in Monaco last November, Spurs now have the chance to redeem themselves.
It may not offer the same prestige or glory as Europe's top-flight competition, but the Europa League still offers Mauricio Pochettino's men the opportunity to broaden their exposure to and experience in continental football.
Indeed, Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris has urged his side to take tonight's fixture against Gent seriously. “In our mind it has to be like the Champions League,” he said. “It is still a good competition to win and we are all ambitious. We want to go as far as possible."
Both teams come into the game off the back of a defeat, with Spurs having lost 2-0 at Liverpool last Saturday, on the same day that Gent were beaten 1-0 at home by Eupen.
However, while Pochettino's side remain in Champions League contention in third place in the Premier League, Gent are down in eighth in the Belgian top flight.
Tottenham head into the tonight's last-32 first-leg as favourites but don't expect an easy ride.
Follow the live action below...
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Thursday's Europa League last-32 fixtures:
United 20:05 Saint-Étienne
FK Krasnodar 16:00 Fenerbahçe
Olympiakos 18:00 Osmanlispor
AZ Alkmaar 18:00 Lyon
B Gladbach 18:00 Fiorentina
Celta Vigo 18:00 Shakt Donsk
FC Rostov 18:00 Sparta Prague
Ludo Razgd 18:00 FC Copenhagen
Astra Giurgiu 18:00 KRC Genk
Ath Bilbao 20:05 Apoel Nic
Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Europa League Round of 32 first leg between KAA Gent and Tottenham Hotspur.
Follow all the action live with the match kicking off at 18:00 GMT.
Line-ups
Gent: Kalinic, Gigot, Mitrovic, Saief, Dejaegere, Asare, Perbet, Simon, Foket, Esiti, Milicevic
Subs: Rinne, Coulibaly, Neto, Kalu, De Smet, Verstraete, Gershon
Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Dier, Davies, Wanyama, Dembele, Winks, Sissoko, Dele, Kane
Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Eriksen, Onomah, Nkoudou, Son
Our man in Belgium is enjoying the pre-match entertainment...
1 minute: and we're under way
Spurs are in their traditional lilywhite kit tonight, while the hosts are in a rather lurid yellow number
2 minutes: half-chance for Gent
An early attack from Gent down the Spurs left comes to nothing. Simon centres to Milicevic but the front man can't make a solid connection with his right-footed shot.
5 minutes: free-kick for Spurs
The visitors get an early free-kick after Esiti's late challenge on Sissoko. Nothing comes of it
7 minutes
It's been a fairly even start here in Belgium. There are a few empty seats owing to traffic problems outside the groun, but the Gent fans are in good voice. There's been little in the way of goalmouth action though.
9 minutes: free-kick to Gent
It's 40 yards out, but Mitrovic is lining up a shot... straight into the Spurs wall.
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