Lyon bury sorry Stuttgart

Lyon playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa (R) skips past the challenge of Stuttgart midfielder Yildiray Basturk during their Champions League tie at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium in Stuttgart on Tuesday.Photo: AFP

Lyon spurned a handful of clear-cut chances on goal but eventually had a deflected Fabio Dos Santos strike and a Karim Benzema goal to thank for a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Stuttgart in the Champions League.
It was the French champions' first win in this season's showpiece tournament for European football after suffering two 3-0 defeats at the hands of Barcelona and Rangers respectively.
"It's the ideal scenario for us. We knew we would be under pressure from our opponents but that we would have chances," said Lyon coach Alain Perrin.
"It's very interesting from now on. We said we had to get past Stuttgart, we have to confirm that at home."
The result left Stuttgart firmly rooted to the bottom of Group E, their winless performance mirroring that of their domestic form - they lie fifth from bottom of the Bundesliga with just 10 points from 10 games, the worst start to a season in history for the defending champions.
Stuttgart coach Armin Veh could have no complaints with the result.
"At the end of the day, we didn't have many chances, unlike Lyon," he said. "We should have at least held on for a draw but Lyon scored and then made the most of the situation."
Dos Santos struck in the 56th minute, hitting a first-time reflexive left-footed shot that took a deflection and left the goalkeeper with no chance after a goal-line scramble.
The impressive Benzema doubled Lyon's tally in the 79th minute, finishing off a neat Sidney Govou lay-off with aplomb after rounding two defenders and wrong-footing Stuttgart goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer.
The result was just reward for a Lyon side which outplayed a pedestrian Stuttgart defence but were guilty of spurning a number of chances.
It was in fact Stuttgart who dominated possession in the first-half, but the Germans could not make their pressure pay.
Mexican midfielder Pavel Pardo whipped in a curling free-kick in the 21st minute but Lyon goalkeeper Remi Vercoutre tipped the ball behind for a corner.
Almost immediately back up the other end, Kim Kallstrom forced Schaefer into a fine save with an ambitious swerving 40-metre shot from midfield.
Roberto Hilbert then beat Vercoutre with a shot but Anthony Reveillere was on hand to mop up.
Lyon upped their work rate in the closing five minutes of the half with two clear-cut chances on goal.
Benzema was firstly put through on a one-on-one against Schaefer by Hatem Ben Arfa, but the stopper stood his ground as the striker shimmied to pass him and the ball deflected off his legs and drifted wide of the left upright.
Ben Arfa was again the creator for the second chance, playing a well-timed lateral ball through to an unmarked Sidney Govou but Schaefer did well to close him down as the striker opted not to attempt a chip.
Then came Dos Santos's deflected goal in a crowded penalty area, with Benzema's goal just desserts for a fine individual performance for the current French league leaders.
In the final 25 minutes, Lyon captain Juninho saw a tame free-kick easily saved, while Benzema forced the busy Schaefer into a fine diving one-handed save.
But the French team were happy to retreat deep into their own half and see out the game for a maiden win in the tournament this season.