Stuttgart have edged out Hamburger SV with a 1-0 home victory at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in the Bundesliga this afternoon.
Stuttgart should have taken the lead after 17 minutes when Ibrahima Traore delivered a perfect ball for Christian Gentner, who could only send his header wide of the post.
Vedad Ibisevic was next to frustrate his Stuttgart teammates when he headed wide of goal having been found by Konstantin Rausch's cross into the box.
Hamburger didn't register their first decent chance until the 32nd minute as Rafael van der Vaart drilled his long-range effort straight at the hosts' goalkeeper.
Alexandru Maxim gave Stuttgart the lead in the 69th minute when he connected with Traore's delivery to tuck home with his left from close range.
Hamburger might have earned themselves an away draw, had Michael Mancienne not headed wide from the centre of the box with just under 10 minutes to play.
Christopher Dodd
