Gent keen to avoid costly slip against Wolfsburg

• Both teams making debut in UEFA Champions League knockout stage
  
• Gent have won their last seven home matches in all competitions
  
• Wolfsburg have registered just one victory since matchday six
  
• Naldo, Wolfsburg's group stage hero, misses the first leg through suspension
  
• With Diego Benaglio out, Belgian keeper Koen Casteels is set for his European debut

Possible lineups
Gent: Sels; Asare, Mitrović, Nielsen; Kums, Neto; Dejaegere, Milicevic, Foket; Simon, Depoitre.
Out: Wikheim (quadriceps), Van der Bruggen (hip)
Doubtful: none
Misses next match if booked: Asare, Depoitre, Foket, Saief

Wolfsburg: Casteels; Träsch, Knoche, Dante, Rodriguez; Arnold, Gustavo; Vieirinha, Draxler, Schürrle; Kruse.
Out: Guilavogui (hip), Benaglio (rib), Caliguiri (bruising), Naldo (suspended), Ascues (knee), Dost (foot), Bendtner (excluded)
Doubtful: none
Misses next match if booked: Caligiuri

Hein Vanhaezebrouck, Gent coach
The difference [compared with the group stage] is that home and away goals are important. We saw the consequence of that in the Belgian Cup [against Club Brugge]. We conceded an avoidable goal at home and that cost us a place in the final. At this level it is even more important to avoid such stupid mistakes.

Once you are past 50, birthdays do not count as much any more – you just hope the years pass by as slowly as possible, otherwise you will get too old for this profession. I am not the kind of person who is too concerned about that, however. It's not so important.

We know it is going to be really tough against a good team like Wolfsburg and if we were to win, we'd be very surprised to be in the draw with seven top sides. For now we must focus on the task at hand to get a good result at home in order to improve our chances for the second leg.

Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg coach
We have a number of injuries and suspensions and there are five probable starters not here. But I think we will be strong enough to take home a good result from Belgium, a result that keeps open our chances in the second leg.

The Champions League really is something special. Before a Bundesliga match there are only eight journalists but today the press room is full. For the players there is no better stage than the Champions League. Here they can attract the eye of their national coach for the upcoming EURO 2016.

In Germany, Gent are underestimated, but I have always recognised their strength. Belgium outgrew its status as a small football nation some time ago. We will need two good days to progress to the quarter-finals.

Weekend results
Gent 2-0 Mouscron-Péruwelz (Boussoufa 85, Milicevic 90+1)
Mbark Boussoufa, a 27th-minute substitute for the injured Moses Simon, opened the scoring on his first appearance since rejoining the club on loan in January. Gent had lost their previous two games 1-0 to Club Brugge in league and cup.

Wolfsburg 2-0 Ingolstadt (Draxler 29, Knoche 39)
Wolfsburg recorded their first win in six matches in all competitions but remain eighth in the Bundesliga. Robin Knoche, making just his second senior outing this term after overcoming a long-term ankle problem, claimed his first goal since 30 November 2014.

Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Gent: WLLWWW
Wolfsburg: WLDLLD

Gent celebrate victory over Zenit©Getty Images

Reporter's view: Derek Brookman (@UEFAcomDerekB)
An intriguing encounter between two of the group stage's surprise packages. Both have stuttered recently; back-to-back defeats by Club Brugge saw Gent supplanted at the league summit and knocked out of the cup, while Wolfsburg went seven top-flight fixtures without a win. However, after a pair of 2-0 weekend triumphs, if either team manage another victory on Wednesday they will feel a corner has been turned.

Did you know?
Gent have faced German opponents on two previous occasions and won both ties despite failing to register a home victory; find out more in our extensive match background.