VfB Stuttgart 1 - 3 Sevilla FC

Squillaci nets brace

Updated: October 21, 2009, 8:49 AM UK

Sevilla recorded a third successive victory, at the expense of Stuttgart, to continue their perfect start in Champions League Group G. The Spaniards were three up after a goal in each half by Sebastien Squillaci and one from Jesus Navas, and substitute Elson's sweetly-struck free-kick for the hosts was mere consolation.

• Babbel: Silly mistakes cost us

After a quiet opening, Sevilla threatened for the first time just before the quarter-hour mark when Luis Fabiano's right-footed shot from inside the penalty area was blocked by Khalid Boulahrouz. The table-toppers went in front when Squillaci met Adriano Correia's cross with a firm header into the top right corner in the 23rd minute.

Long-range shots from Alexander Hleb and Cacau - the first wide, the second comfortably saved - were the highlights of Stuttgart's response before half-time. Correia, such an important contributor in the build-up to Sevilla's goal, had to go off injured nine minutes before the break and was replaced in the midfield by Diego Perotti.

Stuttgart, meanwhile, continued to press - dominating possession and territory without reward in front of goal. Navas rose above the mediocrity of a scrappy opening to the second half, first with a 12-yard shot which flashed just wide and then with Sevilla's second goal in the 55th minute when he was on hand with a right-foot finish from close range after Jens Lehmann had dropped Perotti's cross.

Stuttgart boss Markus Babbel made three substitutions in the 69th minute - Elson, Pavel Pogrebniak and Thomas Hitzlsperger coming on for Hleb, Cacau and Christian Trasch respectively in the 69th minute. The immediate consequence was another blow to home aspirations when Squillaci added his second and Seville's third goal, heading in from six yards on the end of Ivica Dragutinovic's free-kick.

But Elson did soon make his presence felt with an unstoppable right-footed free-kick from 30 yards which gave goalkeeper Herrera Javi Varas no chance in the 73rd minute.

Elson was soon in the action again, first with an inswinging corner which Varas had to punch clear under pressure and then an overhead shot just clearing the bar. Zdravko Kuzmanovic went even closer in the 83rd minute - with a left-footer which Varas had to tip over the bar. In the end, though, it was all too little too late.

Babbel: Silly mistakes cost us

Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel bemoaned the errors that cost his side in what was otherwise a good performance. "We are making far too many silly mistakes," said Babbel, who is finding things much harder in his second season at the club. "But the result tonight and the performance do not match. I think we had a good game."

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez was delighted to maintain a rare perfect record after three games. "Team solidarity won today," Jimenez told reporters. "Stuttgart dominated the first half and we knew we had to be patient. The team read the match very well."