Liam Pitchford helped his UMMC team take control of their Champions League quarter-final against Neu-Ulm of Germany with a 3-0 first-leg victory.

The Russian side led through Jonathan Groth’s 3-1 win over Vladimir Sidorenko and Pitchford made it 2-0 with a 3-1 (12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6) scoreline against Ioannis Sgouropoulos.

Tomislav Pucar then defeated Lev Katsman, also in four, to complete the victory for UMMC. The second leg takes place in Russia next Wednesday.

All the other quarter-final first legs also finished 3-0, Saarbrucken (GER) beating Hennebont (FRA), Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg (RUS) overcoming Sporting Clube de Portugal and Borussia Dusseldorf (GER) defeating Dekorglass Dzialdowo (POL).