Sevilla scored two and earn the top of group

VfB Stuttgart 1-1 Rangers FC

A moment of inspiration from Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra left VfB Stuttgart disappointed as Rangers FC fought back to earn a share of the UEFA Champions League spoils.

The hosts dominated the first half, deservedly took the lead through former FC Zenit St. Petersburg striker Pogrebnyak and looked to be cruising as the teams went in at the break. But a positive response from Rangers changed the complexion of the Group G opener, and after two warnings Bougherra made it 1-1 18 minutes from time when he advanced, played a clever one-two with Jérôme Rothen before slamming home. A disappointing night almost became much worse for the hosts in added time as Steven Davis' low drive clipped the outside of the post.

That would have been harsh on Stuttgart, who had showed more purpose from the off and almost stunned the noisy travelling Rangers support within two minutes when Cacau arrived unmarked in the box to apply a left-foot strike to Roberto Hilbert cross that was well saved by Allan McGregor. Thomas Hitzlsperger was unable to keep his acrobatic effort down from the rebound. It was a sign of things to come for the visitors as they struggled to get out of their own half, the hosts' slick passing game leaving them chasing shadows.

The Bundesliga side's early dominance paid dividends on 18 minutes when the industrious Cacau blocked Saša Papac's attempted clearance before powering into the box and unselfishly laying the ball across to Pogrebnyak who made no mistake, finishing low past the helpless McGregor from ten metres. Stuttgart continued to pile on the pressure and even when they finally began to provide some attacking impetus towards the end of the opening period Rangers struggled with their final ball.

Walter Smith's men started the second half with much more hunger and purpose, almost snatching an equaliser within two minutes of the restart. Rothen found enough space on the right to deliver a dangerous cross which Papac, getting the wrong side of Christian Träsch after surging forward from left-back, got to it first but his diving header flew well wide of Jens Lehmann's left-hand post. It was a stark warning for the dominant hosts but they did to heed it, failing to marry their midfield supremacy into meaningful goalscoring opportunities.

Rangers went close again when new signing Rothen struck the upright with a miscued right-wing cross just after the hour; Stuttgart would not earn a third reprieve, from Bougherra. Rangers continued to press and twice went close late on when Steven Naismith dispossessed Artur Boka in his own box only for Lehmann to smother the ball before he could release his shot. Davis then struck a post with a driven left-foot strike, but Stuttgart held on for the point and now turn their attentions to Romanian side FC Unirea Urziceni in two weeks time, while Rangers face a stiff test at home to Sevilla FC.

Sevilla FC 2-0 FC Unirea Urziceni

Sevilla FC earned the right to top Group G after Matchday 1 with a hard-working 2-0 victory over Romanian UEFA Champions League debutants FC Unirea Urziceni.

The Spanish club ultimately had to rely on Brazilian flair to find a way through a resistant Unirea side as Luis Fabiano, with a fine drive in first-half stoppage time, and then Renato, via a 70th-minute goalmouth header, assured their team of three vital home points. For Unirea coach Dan Petrescu, there was the satisfaction that his charges' intense effort had made them tough to beat, but no points and a burden of four bookings.

The initial pattern may have been as predictable as it was frustrating for the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán crowd. Unirea left only Marius Ioan Bilasco up front and often the striker, joint-top scorer in their championship-winning season, dropped deep to make a six-man midfield. However, Sevilla coach Manuel Jiménez had anticipated the type of task his team faced and both wingers, Jesús Navas and Diego Capel, pushed so far up that the hosts often probed in a 4-2-4 formation. Despite Dan Petrescu's side working with first-class organisation and athleticism, as well as collecting three cautions for foul play, Sevilla began to exert control. Sorin Frunză conceded possession in midfield, enabling Renato to surge forward and hit a fine shot which Ersin Mehmedović deflected wide.

Capel was having a particularly energetic night down the left and his incisive crosses allowed Frédéric Kanouté and Fabiano to impose themselves. Tiberiu Bălan let the pressure get to him and fouled Fabiano. Sevilla's in-form No10 cracked a 25-metre free-kick towards Giedrius Arlauskis's top right-hand corner but the Lithuanian international goalkeeper excelled himself in tipping it over. Two tremendous blocks by overworked centre-half George Galamaz, from Kanouté on the half-hour and then from Fabiano, also prevented Unirea from being blown away.

The deadlock lasted until moments before the interval, however, when Brazilian international Fabiano added to his weekend brace against Real Zaragoza. If Renato's run down the left dragged Unirea defenders with him, his ensuing cut-back to the edge of the box paid even greater dividends as Fabiano swept the ball clinically past Arlauskis. After the break Sevilla upped the tempo and Capel wasted a Fabiano assist, blasting high over, before Galamaz was booked for a crude challenge on the flying left-footer.

Capel departed the scene soon after, being replaced by Diego Perotti, and Kanouté followed as Álvaro Negredo made his UEFA Champions League debut for his new club. Jiménez's attempts to force the pace and tie up a tense game nearly came to quick fruition when former Real Madrid CF striker Negredo tested Arlauskis. The No1, though, earned some luck as the ball ballooned up from his save and dipped just past the goal frame. Even so, the substitutions finally worked as Perotti delivered a 70th-minute corner which Fabiano nodded on and Renato headed in to calm nerves.