Gent have kept alive their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League by beating Valencia.

The hosts started the Group H clash on the front foot when Laurent Depoitre blazed a shot over the crossbar from close range, before Ken Saief also missed the target after neat build-up play from Thomas Foket.

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Valencia then needed third-choice keeper Jaume Domenech to keep them on terms as he saved Sven Kums's volley, and the young stopper was in action again minutes later as he saw Danijel Milicevic's header strike the woodwork.

Gent then squandered another chance as Foket's cross evaded Los Che's defence, but Brecht Dejaegre blazed his effort high and wide from inside the six-yard box.

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However, the home side were awarded a penalty in the early stages of the second period when ex-Liverpool defender Antonio Barragan handled Saief's cross.

Kums duly stepped up and fired his spot kick into the top corner, although Domenech was able to get a glove on his shot before it nestled in the back of the net.

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Valencia first shot of note came on the hour mark when Dani Parejo curled a free kick over the wall, but also over the bar.

However, despite a late shot from Paco Alcacer, Los Che struggled to test Gent as the Belgian secured their first win in the group stages of the Champions League.