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Europa League | Round-Of-32
Feb 25, 2016 at 8.05pm UK
 
Fiorentina logo

3-0

Mason (25'), Lamela (63'), Rodriguez (81' og.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Fiorentina - as it happened

Read how Tottenham Hotspur reached the last 16 of the Europa League with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Fiorentina at White Hart Lane.
2

For the second year in a row, Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina did battle in the last 32 of the Europa League.

Just like last year, the first leg finished 1-1 but this time around it was Spurs who advanced as they won 3-0 in the second leg to cruise through to the round of 16.

Relive the match at White Hart Lane with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Evening folks! We're an hour from kickoff in North London as two of the best teams left in the Europa League do battle in the last 32.

Tonight's game pits the second-best team in England so far this season against Serie A's third-ranked side and it's all to play for after last week's 1-1 stalemate at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

It was a real game of two halves last week. Spurs started superbly and deservedly led at the break through Nacer Chadli's penalty, but once Fiorentina got level through Federico Bernardeschi's deflected shot - La Viola's first on target in the match - they began to dominate and should really have won 2-1 on the night after Gonzalo Rodriguez's glaring miss right at the end.

Federico Bernardeschi celebrates scoring during the Europa League game between Fiorentina and Tottenham Hotspur on February 18, 2016© Getty Images

Right then, let's get some team news from White Hart Lane shall we?

SPURS XI: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies; Dier, Mason; Lamela, Eriksen, Alli; Chadli
Subs: Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Rose, Bentaleb, Onomah, Winks, Son

Mauricio Pochettino makes three changes to the side that started last week's first leg. In goal, Hugo Lloris returns from his shoulder injury in place of Michel Vorm, while further forward Eric Dier and Erik Lamela come in for Tom Carroll and Son Heung-Min.

You may have noticed that there is no Harry Kane in the squad tonight and that's because of a broken nose that the England international suffered in Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Crystal Palace. Pochettino could have risked his star forward tonight, but decided against it and he should be back this coming Sunday at home against Swansea.



FIORENTINA XI: Tatarusanu; Tomovic, Gonzalo, Astori, Alonso; Badelj, Vecino, Borja; Kalinic, Bernardeschi, Ilicic
Subs: Lezzerini, Satalino, Pasqual, Fernandez, Blaszczykowski, Zarate, Babacar

Three changes from Fiorentina as well, with Milan Badelj, Matias Vecino and Nikola Kalinic coming in for Jakub Błaszczykowski, Tino Costa and Mauro Zarate.

Badelj returns to the starting lineup on his 27th birthday...


Going back to the Spurs bench quickly - there are plenty of young names on there and one of them is highly-rated 18-year-old American defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who will make his debut if he comes on tonight. Surely only if the game is well and truly over will the teenager make his bow tonight.

Both sides returned to domestic action over the weekend after last week's first leg, with Spurs surprisingly getting dumped out of the FA Cup at home to Palace, while Fiorentina won 3-2 away at Atalanta in Serie A. Fiorentina are now unbeaten in seven, but for Spurs it's now no win in two after seven in a row.

Looks like a pristine playing surface at White Hart Lane tonight

A general view inside White Hart Lane prior to the Europa League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina on February 25, 2016© Getty Images

STAT: This will be the 15th meeting between Spurs and an Italian side in European competition, with the North London club winning just four previous games (W4 D6 L4). Three of those four wins came at White Hart Lane, though (AC Milan in 1972, Inter Milan in both 2010 and 2013).

Kane is missing from a Spurs matchday squad for the first time in 70 matches and he's decided to do a Q&A session on Twitter before kickoff. This sounds very much like a ritual even though he says it's not!


Kane is absent, but one man in the starting lineup tonight is Dele Alli, who probably should be suspended for this match. The teenager clearly kicked out at Nenad Tomovic last week and the referee appeared to see the incident as he only booked the Englishman. A booking tonight, then, would rule him out of the first leg in the last 16 should Spurs make it through.

Spurs went out to Fiorentina at this stage last season after a 1-1 score in the first leg, but having home advantage tonight, like Fiorentina did last year, should help Pochettino's side, who have lost just one of the last 20 European matches at White Hart Lane, netting an impressive 50 goals and conceding just 17 (W15 D4 L1).

Although Spurs are strong at home, Fiorentina are a tough nut to crack away - La Viola have lost just once in 16 Europa League away matches, conceding two or more on just two occasions.

PREDICTION: OK then. Ten minutes until we get underway in North London and I'm predicting a tight game tonight, with Spurs edging it 1-0 to eke through to the last 16.

By the way, if you also want to follow Manchester United's tie with Midtjylland - the Danish side lead 2-1 after the first leg - then follow this link for our live updates on that one.

Eight round of 32 matches have already been played tonight and the other English team in the competition, Liverpool, have just squeezed past Augsburg 1-0 over the two legs thanks to James Milner's early penalty tonight. Read our on-the-whistle match report here.

James Milner celebrates with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino during the Europa League game between Liverpool and Augsburg on February 25, 2016© Getty Images

Here come the two teams out of the tunnel under the lights at White Hart Lane. Great turnout from the Fiorentina fans and White Hart Lane is rocking. Spurs' main priority this season is undoubtedly the Premier League, but they would love a good run in Europe as well. Can they get revenge for last year's defeat to La Viola?

By the way, Alli and Badelj are the only players in the two starting lineups on a booking and in danger of being suspended for the next round.

The officials tonight are from Romania, with Ovidiu Hategan the man in the middle.

KICKOFF! It's Fiorentina, in their customary all-purple, who get us underway. Spurs are all in white tonight.

Nice interplay between Chadli, Alli and Eriksen before the ball is spread out to the left for Lamela. He then finds the overlapping run of Davies, but the left-back's cross is cleared away by the visitors' defence.

Fiorentina sat back from the word go in last week's first leg, but they're doing the opposite tonight, pressing Spurs very high up the pitch.

First corner of the match for Fiorentina as the visitors pass the ball really well around before Alonso's cross was blocked away.

Valero puts a couple of good balls into the box, but they're both defended well by the Spurs' backline. The ball then drops to Vecino about 30 yards out and his audacious volley is woeful.

"Handball?!" scream some of the Spurs players as Trippier's cross hits Alonso in the box. The Spaniard's hands were not that far away from his body though and the linesman had a good view of that. Would have been harsh.

Free kick now for Spurs on the left wing after Alli was fouled...

ATROCIOUS from Lamela as he drags his free kick short of the first man. Inexcusable for professional footballers to take set pieces that badly!

"Come on Eriksen, swing that one in," a cockney voice can be heard saying at White Hart Lane. Can't imagine Lamela will take any more!

CLOSE! Lamela takes a corner from the other side, though, and this is a much better delivery that Dier flicks towards the back post. Fiorentina keeper Tatarusanu doesn't move, but the ball drops wide as the sprawling Alli fails to get a toe to it at the back stick.

So that Dier header is the only moment of note from the opening quarter of an hour. Both teams seem keen to try to win the ball high up the field and it's not as tentative as I thought that it might be.

BOOKING! Wimmer into the book for a reckless challenge on Ilicic about 35 yards out. Ilicic wants to shoot. Surely not?

Unsurprisingly, it's very comfortable for Lloris as Ilicic's daisy-cutter runs through to the French keeper. Would have to be some strike to beat the Spurs captain from there.

SHOT! Sweet hit from Eriksen from 25 yards and it's got a bit of swerve, but Tatarusanu parries the ball down into the turf and then collecting at the second attempt. That's the first meaningful shot on target.

Alonso's weak shot is gathered at one end by Lloris before Alli looks to slide in Lamela and slightly overhits the through-ball. End-to-end stuff!

Pochettino must have surely warned Alli about his conduct tonight and he clearly trusts him not to get booked, but the English teenager just had a nervous moment after a careless nudge.

Ilicic has his head in his hands after curling a shot wide of the target, but that was a good couple of yards past the post. Lloris not really worried.

GOAL! SPURS 1-0 FIORENTINA (RYAN MASON)

Spurs take the lead! It's a fine finish from Mason after charging through from midfield and collecting Alli's pass before going through on goal and opening his body to finish Thierry Henry-style past Tatarusanu.

Obviously not good for Fiorentina to concede, but it doesn't make a difference in terms of what they need. Because of Spurs' away goal, La Viola have to score tonight and if they equalise then extra time and possibly penalties could be on the cards.

Hmmmmm. Not sure about this. The referee blows for a foul on Chadli even though it seemed that the Belgian was the one hauled over in the box. Fiorentina maybe lucky not to concede a penalty there.

Speaking of Chadli, here he is battling with Alonso for the ball

Nacer Chadli and Marcos Alonso in action during the Europa League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina on February 25, 2016© Getty Images

Good, fast interplay from Spurs as they work the ball from back to front before Alli's curling shot is blocked.

BOOKING! Refs in Europe love handing out yellows quickly and I can't see why Hategan has cautioned Trippier here. A foul on Alonso, definitely, but a booking is so harsh.

From the resulting free kick Borja Valero flicks a header at goal from a tight angle and it whacks into the side-netting.

And here's the moment Mason put Spurs in front. Really cool finish from the young midfielder.

Ryan Mason scores the opener during the Europa League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina on February 25, 2016© Getty Images

BOOKING! First Fiorentina player into Hategan's notebook is right-back Tomovic, who seemed to protest about a decision given against his side.

HALF-TIME: SPURS 1-0 FIORENTINA

Just like last week, it's 1-0 to Spurs at half time and you have to say that Fiorentina have again disappointed in the opening half. They came back fighting last week and Spurs will just want that second goal to give themselves a cushion. Back in no time for the second half!

Here we go then. Players back out for the second half and there's no changes from either manager. Can Fiorentina step it up like they did seven days ago?

KICKOFF! The home side get us back underway. It was no real surprise to see Fiorentina start slowly given that their last eight goals in all competitions have come after half time.

Decent half!


DISALLOWED! Chadli wheels away in celebration after sliding the ball under Tatarusanu and into the net, but the offside flag was up and rightly so you have to say. Not much in it, but the Belgian was ahead of the play.

Encouraging moment up the other end for Fiorentina as Kalinic cleverly finds the run of Bernardeschi. The goalscorer from the first leg gets into the box and then cuts back onto his left foot before his shot from a tight angle is blocked. Probably should have looked for a teammate on the edge of the area.

Poor from Bernardeschi again as he overhits a pass to Kalinic after Fiorentina caught Spurs on the ball and had a chance on the counter-attack.

UPDATE: By the way, it's 1-1 (2-3) at Old Trafford between Man Utd and Midtjylland. United have missed a penalty and several other chances as they chase a goal. If you want to follow that match as well, here's the link you need.

Alli tries his luck from 20-odd yards and his shot is heading goalwards until it hits Gonzalo to go behind for a corner.

Sloppy couple of minutes from Fiorentina, but Spurs don't take advantage as both Alderweireld and Lamela fail to find a teammate with crosses from the right.

Half-chance on the break for Fiorentina down the other end as Valero finds space down the left and goes for goal. Tame effort, though, and Lloris clutches it comfortably.

MAD decision from Hategan to give Fiorentina a free kick after Dier got his foot to the ball ahead of Bernardeschi. No studs up, just a really clean tackle.

CHANCE! For the umpteenth time this half, Bernardeschi makes a mess of a good situation for Fiorentina by slice wide of the target with teammates up in support. He might have scored from distance in the first leg, but he's been very greedy tonight.

They haven't really tested Lloris yet, but Fiorentina are becoming more and more dangerous. Spurs need that second goal.

BOOKING! Fiorentina left-back Marco Alonso into the book for kicking Trippier's knee as the right-back looked to streak away down the wing.

FIORENTINA SUB: The quiet Ilicic comes off and former West Ham man Zarate is on.

GOAL! SPURS 2-0 FIORENTINA (ERIK LAMELA)

Spurs go 3-1 up on aggregate as Lamela sweeps home after Chadli's initial shot was saved by Tatarusanu and then Alli was denied. Is that Spurs through to the last 16?



If Spurs do come through this, you have to say that it will be an impressive result over two legs with Kane barely playing. He came on but did nothing in the first leg and it is not available tonight.

CLOSE! Trippier's low cross is heading Lamela's way until Gonzalo slides in and almost puts it into his own net!

SHOT! Zarate with his first chance since coming on as he twists and turns in the area before his cross-shot is cleared away by Dier with Kalinic lurking just behind.

FIORENTINA SUB: Second change for the visitors, with former Dortmund man Blaszczykowski on for Valero.

Pochettino yet to make a change, but surely it's time to take off Alli so that he doesn't get a yellow card and avoids suspension in the next match.

SPURS SUB: Here comes the change but it's not Alli, but Lamela who comes off for Onomah.

BOOKING! And there is the Alli booking! He will be suspended for the first leg of Spurs' last-16 tie and you have to say it's very harsh. Gonzalo came across and blocked the Spurs man and Hategan booked him for simulation. I'm not sure it was a foul as Alli had lost control of the ball, but it wasn't a dive! Another really poor call from Hategan.

GOAL! SPURS 3-0 FIORENTINA (GONZALO RODRIGUEZ, OG)

That's that! Spurs are going through to the last 16 of the Europa League after Rodriguez poked past his own goalkeeper and in off the crossbar from Trippier's wicked cross. The Viola captain had to do something as Alli was just behind about to prod home himself.

SPURS SUB: After an industrious display, Alli comes off for Bentaleb. A real blow that he was booked and will now miss the first leg of the next round.

SHOT! Whooosh! What a hit! Chadli floats the ball to Mason on the edge of the box and he unleashes a thunderous first-time volley that Tatarusanu instinctively parries out. What a goal that would have been.

SPURS SUB: Mason then comes off, with youngster Harry Winks on in his place.

BOOKING! Crunching tackle from Davies on Vecino and he is also booked.

SAVE! So close to four for Spurs as Eriksen strikes low and hard with his left foot and Tatarusanu makes a fine save.

FULL-TIME: SPURS 3-0 FIORENTINA

SPURS WIN 4-1 ON AGGREGATE AND GO THROUGH TO THE LAST 16 OF THE EUROPA LEAGUE

Ryan Mason yanks away at his shirt after scoring during the Europa League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina on February 25, 2016© Getty Images

So all three English teams have gone through to the last 16, with Liverpool edging out Augsburg earlier and Man Utd just now ending up 5-1 winners on the night over Midtjylland.

Here's the full lineup for the last 16, plenty of big teams in the draw: Dortmund, Spurs, Liverpool, Sevilla, Valencia, Man Utd, Fenerbahce, Villarreal, Bayer, Shakhtar, Bilbao, Lazio, Basel, Braga, Prague, Anderlecht/Olympiacos

Anyway that's all we've got time for here tonight, thanks a lot for joining us. Keep your eyes peeled for reaction from White Hart Lane coming up very soon.

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