A second-half goal from Andre Schuerrle helped VfL Wolfsburg beat Gent 1-0 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time with a 4-2 aggregate victory on Tuesday.

Schuerrle, making a rare start, fired the ball in from a Julian Draxler cut-back in the 76th minute to give Wolves their second straight win over the Belgians.

Both teams were making their debuts in the knockout stages and Wolfsburg's three goals in the first leg gave Dieter Hecking's team a big advantage going into the return match.

Gent tried hard to unsettle the hosts but the German side were resolute in defence and superior all round.

Wolfsburg, who have won their last four Champions League matches and their last two games in the Bundesliga, tried to get an early goal with 2014 World Cup winner Schuerrle going desperately close in the opening minutes.

Max Kruse also did well to control a Schuerrle cross before turning and firing narrowly wide as the home team remained in the driving seat.

Gent keeper Matz Sels then parried a right-foot missile from Joshua Guilavogui in the 18th minute.

The visitors made a rare foray forward on the hour as Danijel Milicevic spurned their best chance when his diving header was off target.