Group G: Gross delighted as Stuttgart advance

STUTTGART, Germany: Christian Gross admitted he was delighted to begin his tenure as Stuttgart coach with a 3-1 win over Romania's Unirea Urziceni which sealed his new team's Champions League last 16 berth.

Although they lie 16th in the Bundesliga, Stuttgart are now among the best 16 teams in Europe and are in the draw for the next round having got off to an electric start which left Dan Petrescu-coached Urziceni stunned.

Former Tottenham Hotspur coach Gross only took charge of Stuttgart on Sunday after Markus Babbel was sacked having seen his side win just twice in its past 15 Bundesliga matches.