Hamburg - German Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart and Serie A team Udinese on Thursday stayed on course for a place in the knockout stage of the UEFA Cup with victories in their group games.

Udinese won 2-1 at Spartak Moscow to register their second win from two games and move to the top of Group D with six points, while Stuttgart, who lost their first Group C game in Sevilla, bounced back with a 2-0 win against Partizan Belgrade.

Both goals for the home side were scored by Germany striker Mario Gomez late in the game.

Stuttgart coach Armin Veh said that even though they had only scored in the second half, they had dominated proceedings throughout. "We were the better side and had many chances. It was a good game from my team."

Gomez, who has now scored five goals in the UEFA Cup, said that the team was much better in the second half. "We were rewarded for our efforts in the second half."

Another Bundesliga side, Hertha Berlin, managed to play to a goalless draw at Metalist Kharkiv to move second in Group B with two points from their two matches.

With the top three advancing from the five-team groups, Hertha coach Lucien Favre highlighted the positives from their draw. "I look at it this way: We won a point, rather than losing two."

He did, however, add that at times the last pass was missing from the team.

Berlin captain Arne Friedrich said that the team did well at the back. "But upfront we should have done more."

13 other matches will be played later Thursday. (dpa)