Tottenham Hotspur have avenged last year's last-32 defeat to Fiorentina in the Europa League by seeing off the Italian side at the same stage in this year's competition.
Having drawn 1-1 in the first leg last week, Spurs cruised to a 3-0 win tonight to claim a 4-1 aggregate victory.
© Getty Images
Both teams started with plenty of energy, pressing the opposition high up the pitch, and it was Spurs who created the first chance in the 12th minute when Erik Lamela's corner was headed wide by Eric Dier.
Christian Eriksen then warmed the palms of Ciprian Tatarusanu with the first meaningful shot on target of the match, but the Fiorentina keeper could have done more to read the opening goal after 25 minutes.
Ryan Mason surged forward from midfield and was able to take Dele Alli's touch in his stride before running into the box and slotting home coolly, although Tatarusanu failed to see Mason open his body.
© Getty Images
Borja Valero's header into the side-netting was as close as Fiorentina came to grabbing a vital away goal in the first half as, just like last week, they failed to get going in the opening 45.
Coming into the match, La Viola's last eight goals had all arrived in the second half and they looked much more dangerous after half time, but Federico Bernardeschi squandered a couple of opportunities in good positions by wildly shooting off target instead of looking for a teammate.
Spurs then doubled their lead in the 63rd minute through Erik Lamela, who pounced on a loose ball in the area and swept home on the turn after Nacer Chadli's initial effort was kept out.
© Getty Images
Spurs suffered a blow in the closing stages when Alli was booked for simulation, meaning that he will miss the first leg of the last-16 tie, but moments later further gloss was put on the scoreline.
Kieran Trippier crossed from the right and with Alli waiting to tap home, Fiorentina captain Gonzalo Rodriguez slid in and poked the ball into his own net off the crossbar.
It could have been more in the closing stages, but both Mason and Eriksen were denied by instinctive Tatarusanu saves.
Pascal Lemesre
