Summary

  • Spurs suffer surprise defeat in Belgium

  • Perbet scores winner from eight yards

  • Second leg at Wembley next Thursday

  1. A good omen for Gentpublished at 17:49 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Gent v Tottenham (18:00 GMT)

  2. Who are Gent?published at 17:45 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Gent v Tottenham (18:00 GMT)

    Gent fansImage source, Getty Images

    Tottenham will have done their homework on the Belgian Pro League side and so have I:

    • Gent won the 2014-15 domestic title, their only top-flight title to date
    • Nicknamed 'The Buffalos'
    • They are currently eighth in the league, 12 points off top spot
    • Reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season
    • Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne spent six years in their youth team
  3. Get Involvedpublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    #bbcfootball

    Spurs team trainingImage source, Getty Images

    Kevin Cosham: You know your team should win when you haven't even signed one of Gent's team on Football Manager.

    William Goodey: Surely Spurs need to qualify for the premier European cup competition before they can feel superior to Arsenal. 

  4. Postpublished at 17:37 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Gent v Tottenham (18:00 GMT)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Mauricio PochettinoImage source, Reuters

    Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino tells BT Sport: "The first leg is very important and getting a good result is key, we need to show we are ready to compete. We have to do our job and play well.

    "Gent have performed well in the Europa League and we are well aware of that.

    "The Premier League is very important but we have a two-week break. We want to get into the next round of the Europa League and FA Cup. We need to try to win those competitions."

  5. Who else is playing?published at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    In light of recent results it's perhaps best not to expect too much from Premier League sides in Europe at the moment.

    But, looking down the list you'd have to back Tottenham and Manchester United pretty highly for the Europa League. On paper at least.

    In fact they are the two favourites at the bookies - in the UK anyway.

    Borussia MonchengladbachImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Gladbach finished between Manchester City and Celtic in their Champions League group this season

    In tonight's seven other games which kick off at 18:00 GMT, the pick is perhaps a Bundesliga v Serie A clash in Monchengladbach.

    Gladbach - down in 10th in the German top flight - face Fiorentina, who are eighth in Italy.

    Elsewhere there are home legs in Romania, Russia, Bulgaria and Greece.

    KrasnodarImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The Krasnodar fans might not be so happy tonight - it's forecast to be -5C at kick-off

    One game has already started though - it was a 16:00 GMT kick-off in Krasnodar, where the hosts are 1-0 up against Fenerbahce. 

    See all the fixtures and scores here. 

  6. Team newspublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Gent v Tottenham (18:00 GMT)

    Gent have got the right team graphic now. Watch out for Danijel Milicevic, a Switzerland-born Bosnia international playmaker - he is the Belgian club's danger man.

    Gent XI: Kalinic; Gigot, Mitrovic, Asare; Foket, Dejaegere, Esiti, Saief; Milicevic, Perbet, Simon.  

    @KAAGentImage source, @KAAGent
  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    #bbcfootball

    Donald TrumpImage source, Getty Images

    Today we are asking:

    The most unusual or unexpected career moves you’ve heard about.

    Richard Tulk: Just sooooo glad Clattenburg is off and don't have to see him in the Prem league anymore - happy days!!!

    Matthew Cooper: Mesut Ozil, from Arsenal midfielder to invisible man.

    Craig Anderson: Donald Trump moving into politics. I wonder how that panned out for him.

    Get in touch using #bbcfootball, external or text in on 81111 (UK only). Remember to put names on texts.  

  8. Botched attempt at team newspublished at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Gent v Tottenham (18:00 GMT)

    The post was very quickly deleted, but Gent's Twitter account just put up a graphic of their line-up with one small problem. It has 12 players.

    Israeli centre-back Rami Gershon was the player inadvertently added.

    GentImage source, @KAAGent
  9. A family affairpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Man Utd v St Etienne (20:05 GMT)

    Pogba v PogbaImage source, Getty Images

    After Spurs, the other English side remaining in the Europa League will be in action and it is a family affair.

    Manchester United take on St Etienne at the last-32 stage, with split loyalties for Mummy Pogba.

    Paul, of United, will be up against elder brother Florentin of the French side.

    Keep an eye on those emojis and haircuts.

    That match kicks off at 20:05 GMT.

  10. Team newspublished at 17:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Gent v Tottenham (18:00 GMT)

    TottenhamImage source, .

    Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino hinted that he would stick with the bulk of the team that lost 2-0 at Liverpool on Saturday, and he has. Just the two changes: Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko are in; Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min drop to the bench.

    Tottenham XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Dier, Davies, Wanyama, Dembele, Winks, Sissoko, Alli, Kane.

    Substitutes: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Eriksen, Onomah, Nkoudou, Son.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    #bbcfootball

    Mark ClattenburgImage source, Getty Images

    In case you missed this from earlier today...

    Mark Clattenburg is quitting his job as a Premier League official to become Saudi Arabia's new head of referees.

    What?? Modern football, eh.

    Anyway, now it is your turn to share experiences of:

    The most unusual or unexpected career moves you’ve heard about.

    Get in touch using #bbcfootball, external or text in on 81111 (UK only). Remember to put names on texts.

  12. Restoring national pridepublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Gent v Tottenham (18:00 GMT)

    Spurs fanImage source, Getty Images

    Arsenal's Champions League ambitions were left in tatters last night after a battering by Bayern Munich in Germany.

    Those at Arsenal Fan TV were in fine form, but at least one half of north London will have gone to sleep with smiles on their faces last night.

    Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side will be looking to restore some European pride for English football when they travel to Belgium to face Gent.

    It's Thursday, it means Europa League action. Welcome along.

  13. Over to Spurspublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2017

    Mesut OzilImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Outclassed

    Alexis SanchezImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Embarrassed

    Oxlad-eChamberlainImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Humiliated

    Don't laugh too early, Spurs fans. It's over to your boys tonight.