Mainz new boys make their mark in victory over Stuttgart

New signings Sami Allagui and Morten Rasmussen scored in each half to give Mainz 05 a 2-0 victory over VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Tunisian striker Allagui, who joined last month from Greuther Furth, opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he took a pass from Lewis Holtby and shrugged off defender Khalid Boulahrouz.

Danish striker Rasmussen, who signed on Thursday on loan from Celtic, added a second two minutes after the break when his 16-metre header from a Bo Svensson free-kick beat Sven Ulreich in goal.

Stuttgart had missed the chance to take the lead when Ciprian Marica was brought down in the area by Mainz skipper Nikolce Noveski, but Cacau's 19th-minute penalty was saved by Christian Wetklo in goal.

Mainz could have added to their tally, but Ulreich saved a Holtby effort, Allagui twice missed good opportunities and Adam Szalai struck the bar, two minutes after coming on for Rasmussen in the 72nd minute.

Borussia Dortmund play Bayer Leverkusen in the day's later game