Valiant AEK beaten but unbowed
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 4
| Bayern | 2 - 0 | AEK |
|---|---|---|
| Lewandovski (P) 31',71' |
AEK lost their fourth Champions League group stage match 2-0 against Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday, but returned to Athens with a measure of pride after frustrating their Group E opponents or long spells.
Two goals from Bayern’s Poland star Robert Lewandowski ultimately saw Niko Kovacs’ team claim all three points at the Allianz Arena, but although AEK are still without a single point from their four matches, the performance was much improved compared with the corresponding match in Athens last month.
Bayern’s first win in five matches at home puts them top of the section and leaves the German giants on the brink of qualification, while AEK remain rock bottom with two matches to play.
THE MATCH
After losing 2-0 to Bayern at home last time out in miserable fashion. Marinos Ouzounidis’s tactics were spot on for AEK this time, and the Kitrinomavri cut down on the number of collective errors they committed in previous matches.
AEK could even been ahead after just five minutes but defender Vasilis Lampropoulos directed his header inches wide of the post from Petros’ Mantalos corner with Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer rooted to the spot.
But Bayern, who were struggling to create clear chances in the opening half, received a gift on the half hour mark when an individual error gave them their opener and deprived AEK players of something more from the most difficult match of their calendar for the season.
AEK’s Serbian defender Uroš Ćosić was the man at fault when, after already having been warned by the referee, he tugged on Lewandowski’s shirt as the Polish striker attempted to get a header on a corner.
Bayern were awarded a penalty and Ćosić was booked for his amateurish mistake. Lewandowski stepped up to slot the penalty comfortably past Vasilis Barkas and Bayern had the crucial breakthrough they needed.
The goal seemed to relieve a lot of tension for Bayern, who began moving the ball forward much more fluidly, but AEK kept to their gameplan well and did not allow the hosts any further opportunities before half-time.
The visitors needed to come out of their shell though after the half-time break if they were going to stand a chance of getting back into the game, but AEK found it difficult to get in front of Neuer.
And it was Bayern who looked the more threatening going forward, with AEK keeper Vasilis Barkas called upon to make a clutch of vital saves, one of the best being a stunning one-handed save to keep out Goretzka's fierce volley after 55 minutes.
In the end AEK’s resistance was broken again in the 71st minute as Lewandowski chalked up his 100th Champions League goal. It came from Kimmich's corner from the left, which Lewandowski arrived at the back-post to volley in and seal the victory.
Next up for AEK is Ajax at home on November 27, before they end the group stage with an away clash at Benfica on December 12. If they want to remain in Europe and enter the Europa League, Ouzounidis’ mean need to win both of those matches and hope that Benfica, who occupy third spot, lose their two remaining fixtures.
STARTING LINEUPS
Bayern: 1Neuer(GK)(C), 5 Hummels, 7 Ribéry, 8 Javi Martínez, 9 Lewandowski, 17 Boateng, 18 Goretzka, 22 Gnabry, 25 Müller, 27 Alaba, 32 Kimmich
AEK: 1 Barkas(GK), 2 Bakakis, 5 Lampropoulos, 8 André Simões, 15 Ćosić, 19 Chygrynskiy, 20 Mantalos(C), 22 Ponce, 23 Hult, 25 Galanopoulos, 95 Alef
