What's happened
Hibs have kept the chance of reaching the European league group stage alive after a goalless first leg in Ghent. Owen Elding missed a first-half penalty, but the side’s defensive discipline and the display of young midfielders have kept the tie open ahead of the return leg at Easter Road.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Hibs have shown tactical discipline in Ghent, neutralising Gent’s threats and maintaining a clean sheet.
- Owen Elding’s saved penalty could become a turning point in the tie, with the tie now heading to Edinburgh for a decisive second leg.
- The performance rests on compact midfield work and the energy of the forward line, suggesting a real chance of progression if they replicate a similar approach at home.
- The tie’s outcome will hinge on whether Hibs can convert chances and withstand Gent’s pressure in the return leg.
How we got here
Hibs reached the play-off rounds of European competition by beating Shkendija in North Macedonia last week. This match against Gent in Ghent represents the first leg of the play-off, with the second leg due at Easter Road. The result keeps alive the prospect of historic progress for the club.
Our analysis
BBC Scotland: post-match quotes and match report; The Scotsman: match analysis and build-up to second leg.
Go deeper
- Will Hibs convert the home leg into a group-stage berth?
- Which players will be pivotal in the return leg at Easter Road?
- How will Elding respond if another penalty chance arises?
More on these topics
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Easter Road - Football stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premiership club Hibernian (Hibs). The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also known by Hibs fans as "The Holy Ground" or "The Leith San Siro". The venue has also been used to stage international matches, Scottish League Cup semi-finals and was briefly the home ground of the Edinburgh professional rugby union team. Hibs first played at the present site of Easter Road in 1893. The ground holds the record attendance for a Scottish match outside Glasgow, when 65,860 attended an Edinburgh derby on 2 January 1950. The size of the terracing was greatly reduced in the 1980s. After the publication of the Taylor Report, Hibs considered leaving Easter Road and moving to a different site (Straiton, near Loanhead, was mooted), but these plans were abandoned in 1994. Redevelopment of the stadium began in 1995 and was completed in 2010. The Easter Road pitch had a pronounced slope until it was removed in 2000.
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Davy Roef - Belgian association football player
Davy Roef (born 6 February 1994) is a Belgian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Gent.