Tottenham 3-0 Fiorentina: Uefa Europa League last 32 as it happened

A thoroughly enjoyable evening for Tottenham, who turned in a typically professional performance to book their place in the last 16 of the Europa League and avenge last season's 3-1 aggregate defeat to Fiorentina.

Losing Alli for the next match will come as a disappointing blow after the budding England midfielder's latest all-action performance, but Pochettino has good depth in that position. His side welcome Swansea in the Premier League on Sunday, while a despondent Viola face a tough home clash with Napoli.

That is all from me, but stay tuned to IBTimes UK for post-match reaction both from this game and Manchester United's 5-1 victory over FC Midtjylland.

Full-time

Tottenham 3-0 Fiorentina

Almost a fourth for Tottenham as Davies picks out Eriksen and the Dane drives a low left-footed shot that Tatarusanu does well to stop with one hand. Astori clears the loose ball for a corner.

At the other end, Zarare rather sums up a miserable night for Fiorentina with a dismal shot.

That was a nasty clash between Davies and Vecino, who both appear to have hurt themselves. The Tottenham defender then receives a yellow card for his troubles.

What an impressive effort from Mason, who smashes a clean volley on goal from the edge of the box after being teed up perfectly by the tricky Chadli. Tatarusanu acrobatically tips it over the crossbar.

That is the young midfielder's last contribution as he is replaced by another academy graduate in England U20 international Harry Winks.

A change apiece now, with Sousa opting to replace Badelj with Fernandez. Alli is also withdrawn to thunderous applause as Nabil Bentaleb takes his place.

Five minutes remaining and this one is all over bar the shouting.

And that, as they say, is that.

Trippier rarely needs a second invitation to bomb forward down that right flank and he is picked out by Chadli on this occasion with a pass that takes Alonso completely out of the equation.

The former Burnley favourite then whips in a dangerous cross that Gonzalo awkwardly turns into his own net with Alli lurking close behind.

Goal: Tottenham 3-0 Fiorentina (Gonzalo Rodriguez OG)

Trademark anticipation, timing and speed from noted sweeper-keeper Lloris, who dives at the feet of Kalinic to thwart any possible danger.

Alli then goes to ground after a light shove from Gonzalo and ends up being harshly cautioned for simulation. He will now miss the first leg of the last 16 in the likely event that Tottenham qualify.

It's Pochettino's turn to utilise his bench now as the Argentine withdraws compatriot Lamela and introduces 18-year-old midfielder Joshua Onomah.

Sousa makes his second change, sending on Borussia Dortmund loanee Jakub Blaszczykowski in place of Valero. Fiorentina need to go for broke here with less than 20 minutes plus stoppage time remaining.

Fine skill from the talented Zarate to leave Alderweireld on his backside, but his shot is deflected wide for a corner that is confidently claimed by Lloris.

With their team's lead looking close to unassailable at this point, the Tottenham supporters are in fine voice. Trippier looks to engineer a third goal with a fizzed cross towards Lamela that Gonzalo and Astori combine to clear. That was far from assured defending.

We neglected to mention earlier that Alonso picked up a yellow card for a kick to the thigh of Trippier.

Tottenham double their advantage and put one foot in the last 16 of the Europa League. Eriksen's pass forward finds Chadli, who cuts inside and drills a powerful shot that is parried by Tatarusanu.

Astori prevents Alli from slotting home the rebound, but the ball eventually falls for Lamela and he makes no mistake. Suspicions of offside, but the assistant referee keeps his flag down.

Goal: Tottenham 2-0 Fiorentina (Erik Lamela)

Zarate replaces Ilicic with half an hour left to play.

IBTimes UK sport editor Nick Howson at White Hart Lane:

Fiorentina have begun the second half like they ended the first, playing as if their life in this competition depends on it. Hugo Lloris has not been forced into a great amount of genuine saves but the Spurs back four has been stretched to its fullest. Bernardeschi and Ilicic are posing the main threat but as yet the north Londoners' attack remains un-breached.

Bernardeschi cuts a frustrated figure once again as he cuts in from the right and looks to beat Davies before firing a shot hopelessly high. Kalinic scolds his teammate, whose decision making has certainly left a lot to be desired so far tonight.

Zarate is getting ready to enter the fray for Fiorentina.

Alli continues to look threatening for Tottenham and his latest effort is deflected wide by Gonzalo. The Fiorentina skipper then has to be alert to block Toby Alderweireld's cross.

Sousa's side break quickly, but Valero decides to shoot from a difficult angle and Lloris saves comfortably.

A brief period of pressure from Fiorentina as Bernardeschi looks to pose an attacking threat.

Milan Badelj tries his luck with a shot from distance but it is well blocked.

The second half is off and running. A painful early blow for Alli as he comes off worse from a Vecino tackle.

Chadli has the ball in the back of the net following an incisive through ball from Lamela but the assistant referee's flag was already raised for offside.

IBTimes UK sport editor Nick Howson at White Hart Lane:

That Ryan Mason goal might give Tottenham the lead on the night but it changes little in the contest of the tie. Fiorentina always needed to score tonight but now they must break down the Premier League's meanest defence in order to keep their Europa League hopes alive. Whether that means holes are left in behind remains to be seen. Finely poised.

Half-time

Tottenham 1-0 Fiorentina

One minute of added time to come at the end of this first half.

Fiorentina work another corner but Lloris fists clear before catching the second delivery. Tottenham still comfortable as we head towards the break.

That challenge gives Fiorentina a free-kick in the left-hand corner. Ilicic's delivery towards the front post is flicked into the side netting by the head of Valero.

Savvy stuff from former Bolton and Sunderland left-back Alonso as he gets to the ball before Trippier and invites the foul. That will be a yellow card.

Lovely quick passing football from Tottenham almost leads to another opportunity but Alli's shot is blocked by Astori and the whistle blows as Lamela looks to head the rebound on target.

Pochettino will be pleased with the work rate of his midfield during this opening 35 minutes. Fiorentina have had their fair share of possession but they are being constantly harassed and cannot get any meaningful service up to Kalinic.

Chadli is incredulous as he is held by Gonzalo as he looks to create space in preparation for Trippier's cross but the referee gives the free-kick to Fiorentina. That could easily have been a penalty.

Astori looks to have hurt himself following that unsuccessful challenge on Alli. Gonzalo also goes down in a heap claiming to have been hit with an elbow during a coming together with Dier.

A goal to settle the nerves for Tottenham. Nacer Chadli fails to control Davies' low pass forward from left-back, but Alli is there to release Mason under pressure from Astori.

His fellow midfielder then runs through on goal before sidefooting neatly into the bottom corner.

Goal: Tottenham 1-0 Fiorentina (Ryan Mason)

Positive play from Ilicic as he collects possession on the right flank before cutting inside and taking on Davies. His curled shot then drifts wide of Lloris' right-hand post.

Lamela drives forward for Tottenham and finds Alli before making an incisive run into the penalty area. Unfortunately for him, however, the return pass is slightly overhit and Tatarusanu can collect.

Mason tees up Eriksen, who finds space and unleashes a long-rang shot that swerves slightly before being stopped by Ciprian Tatarusanu.

Ilicic fancies his chances with a free-kick from approximately 30 yards out, but his low driven effort is easily held by Lloris.

IBTimes UK sport editor Nick Howson at White Hart Lane:

Very easy to be impressed by a near packed White Hart Lane, the crispness of a brisk February evening, the sight of a stadium under lights and the enthusiasm of the droves of travelling support. Difficult to enjoy any of that however amid a game which has failed to get going. Tottenham energetic but inaccurate, Fiorentina incisive but wasteful.

A reminder that the only result that can lead to extra-time and possibility penalties tonight is 1-1.

Kevin Wimmer becomes the first player to enter the referee's notebook for an ill-judged sliding tackle on Kalinic.

Lamela provokes groans from supporters on the near side with a dreadful low free-kick that is easily cleared.

Good persistence from Alli to win a corner and the confident 19-year-old is a whisker away from making contact with Dier's flicked header to the far post. That was very close.

Tottenham appeal for a penalty after Kieran Trippier's cross is blocked by the hand of Alonso. The referee waves play on, but replays show that the home side may certainly have had a case.

It's been a tame opening in N17. Fiorentina win the first corner of the evening but it comes to nothing as Eric Dier's defensive header is blazed well over the crossbar by Matías Vecino.

The first involvement for Alli as he looks to attack down the Tottenham right but is stopped by a challenge from Davide Astori. The midfielder claims a corner but referee Ovidiu Hategan points for the goal kick.

Early danger for Fiorentina as Lamela finds Ben Davies on the overlap but his drilled cross is cleared by captain Gonzalo Rodríguez.

We are underway at White Hart Lane. Can Tottenham join Liverpool in the last 16? A goalless draw would be enough for them to progress on away goals, but I'm sure they are not thinking like that just yet.

Full-time scores:

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Marseille (Agg 2-1)

Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Sporting (Agg 4-1)

Lazio 3-1 Galatasaray (Agg 4-2)

Liverpool 1-0 Augsburg (Agg 1-0)

Schalke 0-3 Shakhtar Donetsk (Agg 0-3)

FK Krasnodar 0-3 Sparta Prague (Agg 0-4)

Rapid Vienna 0-4 Valencia (Agg 0-10)

Sousa has been effusive of his praise for Pochettino and Tottenham ahead of tonight's second leg:

"I certainly feel and I believe a lot of us also think that Spurs are one of the very best teams in Europe at the moment,' he said earlier this week.

"That's from a technical, tactical, mentality and physical point of view. They're a young team, and they're a very hungry team and every time they go out they want to try to impose themselves.

"We need to play with a high level of physical and mental intensity and we need to play our game. Certainly in the first leg - despite the fact that Spurs are the team that come from this background and culture of being intense, being very strong and being physical -- we more than held our own and created problems for them by the way we kept the ball moving. What we require is a game where we're at our very best and at our best level of intensity.

"First and foremost Mauricio's mentality and approach is one of someone who always wants to win. I find it hard to imagine a manager going into a game thinking they don't want to win or not being interested in winning a competition. And you can't just focus on one competition.

"You have to bear in mind that Mauricio comes from a very competitive footballing background and certainly he will want to win."

No violet onesies in sight for the home side as they run through their pre-match paces. Just over 20 minutes remaining until kick-off.

IBTimes UK sport editor Nick Howson at White Hart Lane:

Hard to escape the fact that it is bitterly cold in north London tonight. The temperature appears to have even gotten to the pre-match atmosphere around White Hart Lane which is nervy rather than filled with anything resembling anticipation.

Even the normally vocal away fans from Florence are quiet before kick-off. Though if I had to watch my team warm-up in what can only be described as a violet onesie, then I might keep my voice down too. Very little to shout about here, which hopefully does not set the tone for the evening ahead.

It will be interesting to see if there is any lingering bad blood between Tomovic and Dele Alli tonight after the latter somehow escaped a red card for petulantly kicking out at the Serbian defender during the first leg.

Tello is cup tied in the Europa League due to his previous involvement with Porto, while Facundo Roncaglia, Manuel Pasqual, Fernandez and Khouma Babacar all drop out.

Sousa has recalled Tomovic, Marcos Alonso, Borja Valero, Kalinic and Josip Ilicic. Mauro Zarate, who joined from West Ham during the January transfer window, is listed among the substitutes.

Whereas Tottenham were defeated last weekend, Fiorentina, third in Serie A and six points adrift of leaders Juventus, triumphed 3-2 in an eventful clash - featuring four goals in the last 11 minutes - at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia courtesy of efforts from Matías Fernández, Barcelona loanee Cristian Tello and former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinić.

IBTimes UK sport editor Nick Howson at White Hart Lane:

If you needed an answer to the question of where Tottenham's loyalties lie during the the reminder of the season, then tonight's team is all the convincing you need that the Premier League is the now the main priority.

Out of the FA Cup they might be, but Spurs remain committed to domestic commitments and tonight name a weakened team to face Fiorentina. Already aware of Harry Kane's omission, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose sit out.

Hugo Lloris does return in goal after a should problem, while Erik Lamela has recovered from the illness which saw him miss last week's first leg.

Fiorentina: Tatarusanu, Gonzalo, Tomovic, Astori, Alonso, Badelj, Vecino, Borja, Kalinic, Bernardeschi, Ilicic

Subs: Lezzerini, Satalino, Zarate, Fernandez, Blaszczykowski, Pasqual, Babacar

Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies, Dier, Mason, Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Chadli

Subs: Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Rose, Bentaleb, Onomah, Winks, Son

Team news is on its way imminently...

The late games, other than Tottenham vs Fiorentina, are as follows:

Basel vs St Etienne (Agg 2-3)

Porto vs Borussia Dortmund (Agg 0-2)

Manchester United vs Midtjylland (Agg 1-2)

Molde vs Sevilla (Agg 0-3)

Napoli vs Villarreal (Agg 0-1)

Olympiacos vs Anderlecht (Agg 0-1)

A reminder that there are 15 other Europa League last-32 second-leg matches taking place tonight, with kick-off times split between 18.00 and 20.05 GMT. Braga and Fenerbahce are already through at the expense of FC Sion and Lokomotiv Moscow respectively.

Here are the half-time scores from the early games:

Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Marseille (Agg 1-1)

Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Sporting (Agg 2-1)

Lazio 0-0 Galatasaray (Agg 1-1)

Liverpool 1-0 Augsburg (Agg 1-0)

Schalke 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (Agg 0-1)

FK Krasnodar 0-0 Sparta Prague (Agg 0-1)

Rapid Vienna 0-0 Valencia (Agg 0-6)

An early penalty from James Milner has Liverpool on course to progress.

It's a fine night for knockout football at White Hart Lane...

It is not all doom and gloom on that front, however. First-choice goalkeeper and influential captain Hugo Lloris has returned to training after missing two games with the shoulder injury he picked up during the latter stages of a 2-1 win at Manchester City on Valentine's Day.

Erik Lamela is also available for selection after illness, although Tom Carroll is likely to need one more week to recover from a cut on his achilles. Jan Vertonghen and Clinton Njie both remain absent with knee ligament damage.

Confirmed line-ups should filter through shortly, but one name we know will be absent from the teamsheet is Harry Kane. The England striker suffered a broken nose during that aforementioned cup defeat and despite initially being expected to play, he visited a specialist yesterday and was subsequently ruled out on medical advice. Pochettino hopes to have him back in the fold for the visit of Swansea on Sunday.

In other Tottenham injury news, midfielder Mousa Dembele came off at half-time against Palace with a groin injury and is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks.

After being knocked out of the FA Cup at the fifth-round stage last weekend at home to a badly out-of-form Crystal Palace team featuring controversial former striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Tottenham will hope to bounce back tonight and keep their dream of an unlikely double alive as they welcome Fiorentina to White Hart Lane for the second leg of their Europa League last-32 clash.

The tie is currently poised at 1-1 after the first leg in Florence, where Nacer Chadli gave Mauricio Pochettino's side the lead from the penalty spot after Ben Davies was felled by Nenad Tomovic. The hosts, managed by former QPR, Swansea and Leicester boss Paulo Sousa, levelled shortly before the hour mark when winger Federico Bernardeschi's hopeful shot took a big deflection off Ryan Mason on its way past Michel Vorm.

Stay tuned to IBTimes UK for the latest breaking teams and live updates ahead of the 20.05 GMT kick-off in north London. Sports editor Nick Howson will also be on hand to provide his thoughts throughout the evening....