Salzburg took a massive step towards securing their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League with a 1-0 victory over Levski Sofia.

Dusan Svento's goal in first-half stoppage time was enough to give the Austrian side a third successive win in Group G.

With Lazio snatching a 2-1 win over Villarreal in Rome, Salzburg are three points clear of their Italian rivals with the top two teams qualifying.

Salzburg boss Huub Stevens had challenged his side to produce a reaction to the disappointing league defeat by Austria Vienna which left them ahead of their opponents only on goal difference.

And they did just that despite the absence of star striker Marc Janko.

Janko, last season's top scorer in the Austrian league by some distance, suffered a thigh injury at the weekend.

Midfielder Nikola Pokrivac overcame a bout of flu to start along with full-back Rabiu Afolabi.

Levski looked like ideal opponents for Salzburg to face, sporting director Georgi Ivanov having taken over as caretaker boss following the resignation of Serbian Ratko Dostanic after a poor start to the season.

Levski are labouring at home, lying ninth in the table with only 10 points from eight games, and the weekend defeat to Beroe Stara Zagora proved the final nail in Dostanic's coffin.

As expected the home side were quickly on the front foot and midfielder Yordan Miliev made a number of clearances from inside the area as Levski defended deep.

Goalkeeper Georgi Petkov had been largely untroubled however, until the 17th minute when he tipped Pokrivac's 20-yard drive round the post.

Alexander Zickler then headed a cross from Pokrivac wide of the post before the visitors almost took a shock lead with 20 minutes gone.

Striker Hristo Yovov found space just six yards out but looked on in despair as his right-foot shot came back off the post.

The home side eventually regained the upper hand and took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Svento fired home from 20 yards.

Salzburg goalkeeper Eddie Gustafsson had been largely a spectator in the opening period but was up to the task when eventually called into action, saving long-range efforts from Georgi Sarmov and Cedric Bardon.

The visitors refused to give in but never really looked like getting back on level terms.

Teams

SV Red Bull Salzburg Gustafsson, Schwegler, Sekagya, Afolabi,Ulmer, Schiemer, Tchoyi, Leitgeb (Cziommer 80), Pokrivac,Svento (Vladavic 90), Zickler (Rakic 75).

Subs Not Used: Arzberger, Dudic, Augustinussen, Opdam.

Booked: Pokrivac.

Goals: Svento 45.

Levski Sofia Petkov, Milanov (Benzoukane 46), Miliev, Genev,Minev, Soares, Sarmov, Baltanov, Bardon (Hristov 56),Nikolay Dimitrov (Joaozinho 65), Yovov.

Subs Not Used: Cvetan Dimitrov, Ognyanov, Tabakov, Baldzhiski.

Booked: Baltanov, Yovov, Petkov.

Att: 17,800

Ref: Hannes Kaasik (Estonia).