IANS/DPA
Wolfsburg (Germany), Aug 8: Champions VfL Wolfsburg opened the German Bundesliga football season with a stylish 2-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart.
Playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic curled home from the edge of the area in the 71th minute and the freshly-crowned German Footballer of the Year Grafite wrapped up matters in the 82nd here on Friday night.
Wolfsburg went undefeated at home last season with 16 wins and a draw en route to a surprise first national title ahead of Bayern Munich and Stuttgart. Grafite scored a league-leading 28 goals and attacking partner Edin Dzeko 26.
"It was a nice evening for the club and for myself. Another goal for me, I am happy," said Grafite.
Wolfsburg had an almost identical lineup as in the trophy campaign, with Karim Ziani the only newcomer fielded by coach Armin Veh.
Veh led Stuttgart to the 2007 title before being fired last November after a 4-1 hammering in Wolfsburg. He took over again July 1 for Felix Magath, who moved on to Schalke 04.
Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel played both new prominent hirings Alexandr Hleb and Pavel Pogrebnyak, with the ex-Zenit St Petersburg striker Pogrebnyak coming close with a header as Stuttgart dominated early in the game.