Stuttgart succumb to slick Saturn

Dmitri Kirichenko's third-minute goal was sufficient to earn Gadzhi Gadzhiev's FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast an important first-leg advantage against the 2006/07 Bundesliga champions.

Early winner
Although Armin Veh's team only finished sixth last term, they represented a formidable opponent to the UEFA club competition debutants. Yet the Premier-Liga outfit adapted quickly to the task and their early vigour was rewarded with what proved to be the winning goal. The 31-year-old, who scored four times in 12 games for Russia earlier in his career, met Alexey Ivanov's low cross from the touchline to give the hosts a dream start.

Stolz save
The visitors had several opportunities to restore parity before the break but it was Saturn's Alexei Eremenko Jr who spurned the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when Kirichenko's pass released the Finnish international only for him to strike his shot against the leg of goalkeeper Alexander Stolz in a one-on-one situation.

Marica denied
After the interval, the visitors took the initiative again and on 55 minutes Ciprian Marica had an excellent opportunity to equalise. The Romania forward beat Luiz Ricardo Da Silva and Saturn goalkeeper Antonín Kinský, but the defender recovered in time to stop Marica finishing into the empty net.

Post rattled
Kirichenko nearly doubled his tally on 64 minutes but his shot from Benoît Angbwa's pass struck the post and bounced into Stolz's arms. Chances proved hard to come by for the remainder, with both sides arguably satisfied to carry the result forward to the second leg in Germany on 27 July.