Things didn’t go according to plan for Tottenham as they absorbed a shock 1-0 loss to Gent in the first leg. Even though Mauricio Pochettino fielded a strong lineup in that clash, Spurs still weren’t able to break down a Gent side that’s ranked just eighth in the Belgian league this season. Of the last eight matches in which Spurs have failed to find the back of the net, four have come in European games.
Spurs will need to sort out their attack if they are to overturn this 1-0 deficit against Gent. The problem for Tottenham is their alarming form at Wembley. Spurs have rarely been at their best at England’s national stadium this season, winning just one of their three Champions League group games at Wembley. They failed to qualify from their Champions League group after losing at home to Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen.
The good news for Pochettino is that Harry Kane is fit for Thursday’s crucial second leg showdown. Kane, who leads Tottenham in scoring this season with 19 goals, got a knock on his knee in the first leg against Gent. He showed no ill effects of that injury, though, in the FA Cup last Saturday, firing a stunning hat-trick in Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Fulham.
They are pegged at -200to go through to the Europa League round of 16.
Gent pulled off quite the result as they shut out mighty Tottenham in the first leg. Much more renowned for their attacking flair, Gent showed they could hunker down and defend as well against the English giants. They even pulled off a slim 1-0 victory last Thursday thanks to Jeremy Perbet’s goal in the 59th minute. Gent boss Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s decision to select the 32-year-old journeyman in attack paid off handsomely for the Buffalos who are now just 90 minutes away from grabbing a shock aggregate win.
For Gent to record that historic feat, they will need to get another solid performance from Danijel Milicevic. The Swiss-born playmaker set up Gent’s winner and twice went close to scoring himself in the win against Tottenham. Milicevic, who made the Europa League Team of the Group Stage, has scored three goals and dished out two assists in this season’s competition.
They are pegged at +160to go through to the Europa League round of 16.
Writer’s Prediction
Tottenham (-361) barge into the round of 16 with a comfortable 3-0 win.
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