Stuttgart sink Getafe to maintain perfect start

Ciprian Marica's goal was enough for VfB Stuttgart to defeat Getafe CF 1-0 and maintain their perfect record at the top of Group H.

The Romanian international finished at the second attempt in the 29th minute to move Stuttgart on to nine points, one more than they have after eight matches in the Bundesliga, where they are bottom. Interim coach Jens Keller, replacing the sacked Christian Gross, could now lead the team into the knockout rounds when they travel to Madrid for the return fixture in two weeks' time.

Getafe started brightly with raids down the left and right respectively from Manu and Javier Arizmendi both ending with dangerous low crosses into the box cut out by Khalid Boulahrouz and goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, who otherwise had little to do in the first half.

The same could not be said of Oscar Ustari at the other end, the Getafe No1 doing well to deny Mauro Camoranesi at his near post. Ustari also kept out Marica's initial shot after he was played in by a lovely flicked pass over the visiting defence from Cacau in the move which led to the goal, but could do nothing as the Romanian slotted in the rebound.

Having created that goal, captain Cacau should have made it 2-0 five minutes after the restart, only to shoot straight at Ustari after a neat build-up. More tidy approach play resulted in another opening just after the hour, Zdravko Kuzmanović this time curling a shot just wide from outside the box.

Goalscorer Marica was replaced by Pavel Pogrebnyak in the 66th minute, and the Russia forward passed up two excellent chances to wrap things up – misses which could have proved costly had Ulreich not saved well to deny Manu.