VfB Stuttgart ran out deserved winners in a relatively one-sided affair against Hannover 96 at the Mercedes Benz Arena. The Swabians showed the more creativity, invested far more going forward and never really looked like letting their advantage slip. The result comes as an unfortunate blow for 96, who went into the game on the back of two straight wins.

The match was energetic from the off with both sides attempting to pose the early attacking threat. As a result it didn't take long for the first chances of the game to materialise, Ciprian Marcia heading narrowly over for the hosts on four minutes before Didier Ya Konan's turn and shot missed the target at the other end a minute later.

No way through: Didier Ya Konan

As the first half progressed it was the hosts who began to seize the initiative , though they struggled to break down a resolute Hannover defence which read VfB's passing and movement with ease. Christian Gross' men should have done better from set pieces - Georg Niedermeyer failing to find a way past Florian Fromlowitz with two headers from Zdravko Kuzmanovic corners.

The Swabians finally broke the deadlock in the 36^th minute when Aleksandr Hleb left Manuel Schmiedebach in his wake before crossing superbly into the box for Marica head the home side into the lead from six yards out. The Romanian striker should have doubled the advantage shortly afterwards but headed onto the bar from close range following some good build up play on the left between Hleb and Cristian Molinaro.

Dazzling display: Aliaksandr Hleb

Coach Slomka reacted at the interval, bringing on Steve Cherundolo and Hanno Balitch for the disappointing Schmiedebach and Constant Djakpa. Still, the fresh legs weren't enough to change the course of play as VfB continued to dictate proceedings without looking like adding to their tally.

Indeed, it took a gift from the away side for Stuttgart to double their lead. Christian Schulz's sloppy pass nine minutes into the second period landed at the feet of the grateful Marica, who finished with aplomb past the helpless Fromlowitz from just inside the box. Niedermeyer missed another headed opportunity for number three just a few minutes later, while 96 failed to respond in kind and despite a decent defensive display lacked the necessary fusion and penetration to warrant salvaging a point.

As the game entered its final phase it became clear that there was no way back for 96. Stuttgart held on to their lead with relative ease until the final whistle, meaning Hannover remain in the bottom three, level on points with 17^th-placed Freiburg who put the pressure on with a 1-0 victory over Mainz.

Stuttgart: Lehmann – Celozzi (Boulahrouz 46'), Niedermeier, Delpierre, Molinaro – Gebhart (Rudy 69'), Kuzmanovic, Khedira, Hleb – Marica (Cacau 76'), Pogrebnyak

Hannover: Fromlowitz – Schmiedebach (Cherundolo 46'), Haggui, Durica, Schulz – Andreasen – Pinto, Djakpa (Balitsch 46') – Bruggink – Koné (Hanke 61'), Ya Konan

Goals: 1-0 Marica (36'), 2-0 Marica (54')

Attendance in the Mercedes-Benz Arena: ca. 38,000

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