Dimitar Berbatov proved to be the matchwinner for Tottenham Hotspur on his return to former club Bayer Leverkusen.
The Bulgaria international striker netted the only goal of the game in the BayArena nine minutes before the break to ensure that Spurs progress through to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.
Berbatov tested home keeper Hans-Jorg Butt with the first chance of the game six minutes in, before Leverkusen were hit by Switzerland international Tranquillo Barnetta being forced off due to injury ten minutes later.
Soon after Berbatov went close with a header and after he and Aaron Lennon had spurned further openings, the pair combined for what proved to be the only goal of the game.
Lennon played in his team-mate and Berbatov did the rest from close range.
Leverkusen brought on Paul Freier at the interval and he brought a solid save out of Paul Robinson seven minutes later.
Robinson then gathered a Sergei Barbarez header as the home side began to improve.
Andriy Voronin was also denied by Robinson, before Berbatov spurned a clear opening and Robbie Keane almost made it 2-0, seeing his shot pushed away by Butt.
Shortly afterwards the woodwork saved Spurs as Germany midfielder Bernd Schneider's 25-yard strike hit an upright with Robinson beaten.
Berbatov left the field with 15 minutes left to play to be replaced by Mido and Spurs held on with some ease to secure a third win out of three in Group B.
Indeed they had the best late chances, with Butt saving well from right-back Pascal Chimbonda in time added-on at the end of the game.
There was still time for Butt to deny both Keane and Mido as his efforts kept the margin of the defeat down to a single goal.