Gent vs Tottenham - as it happened: Spurs shocked by Gent in Europa League defeat

Re-live all the action from the Ghelamco Arena

Tottenham's players after conceding in the second half (Getty)

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.

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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

[16 February 2017 18:33 · Evan Bartlett]

32 minutes: chance for Spurs! 

Sissoko knocks down a cross to Alli on the edge of the box but he fires a volley well over the bar from 25 yards.

Spurs have looked better in the last few minutes - but they did set a low bar with that opening half hour...

[16 February 2017 18:35 · Evan Bartlett]

33 minutes: another chance for Spurs!

Dembele dances through the Gent defence and pulls one back with his weaker right foot, it flicks up to that man Alli again... but his volley is blocked.

[16 February 2017 18:38 · Evan Bartlett]

37 minutes

Genk boss Vanhaezebrouck brings his hands to his mouth and gestures to his players to communicate more. Either that or he's signalling that he's feeling a bit peckish... 

[16 February 2017 18:41 · Evan Bartlett]

39 minutes

Again, Thomas Foket is enjoying lots of space down Gent's right flank. Ben Davies needs to get tighter on his man or pull one of his midfielders back for some support. Spurs are let off though as Foket's cross comes to nothing.

[16 February 2017 18:41 · Evan Bartlett]

41 minutes: corner for Gent

The home side get their third corner of the night after a horrible, sliced clearance from Hugo Lloris. It's cleared through a combination of Davies and Alli.

[16 February 2017 18:44 · Evan Bartlett]

43 minutes: shot!

Harry Winks - who's been at the heart of everything good for Spurs tonight - sets up Dembele for a long shot but his effort goes straight at Gent goalkeeper Kalinic.

[16 February 2017 18:46 · Evan Bartlett]

Half-time: Gent 0 Spurs 0

Despite fielding a near full-strength XI, that's really not been a great half from Tottenham against a lively Gent side. The visitors have looked sloppy in possession and have offered the hosts - buoyed by a noisy home support - far too much space. Much to ponder for Mauricio Pochettino at the break.

[16 February 2017 18:55 · Evan Bartlett]

"There's nothing happening, there's no spark," says Harry Redknapp in the BT Sport studio at half-time.

The former Spurs boss wants to see Dele Alli play a more central role - he's been out on the left so far - and some pace from the bench. Son Heung-min could fit the bill...

[16 February 2017 19:02 · Samuel Lovett]

45 minutes: Kick-off!

The second half is under way!

[16 February 2017 19:05 · Evan Bartlett]

49 minutes: post!

Kyle Walker makes a run down the right, Alli gets a touch and it falls to Kane who swivels and hits it with his right foot. It slaps the outside of the post. Best chance of the night so far. Still 0-0.