Lewandowski double gives Bayern 2-0 win over AEK

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski scores their second goal REUTERS/Michael Dalder

MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski scored once in each half to give his team a 2-0 victory over AEK Athens in the Champions League on Wednesday that put them two points clear at the top of Group E with two matches left.

Lewandowski scored a 31st-minute penalty and added another in the 72nd with a volley at the far post as the Bavarians got a much-needed confidence boost ahead of their Bundesliga match against league leaders Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

Bayern, who struggled in the first half against a gutsy AEK, are on 10 points, with Ajax Amsterdam on eight after drawing 1-1 against Benfica.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 AEK Athens' Vasilis Barkas in action REUTERS/Michael Dalder

The Greeks made the better start and Vasilis Lampropoulos' glancing header in the fifth minute sailed just wide of Manuel Neuer's post.

AEK valiantly stood their ground for 30 minutes but a 31st-minute penalty for a foul on Lewandowski allowed the striker to score the opener.

Leon Goretzka almost scored for Bayern 10 minutes after the restart but his point-blank header was pushed over the bar by AEK keeper Vasilis Barkas.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

The keeper then denied Lewandowski in a one-on-one as Bayern pressed hard for a second goal that would kill off the game.

They were rewarded in the 72nd minute when Joshua Kimmich whipped in a corner and Lewandowski was left unmarked to volley in at the far post after a flick-on.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 AEK Athens' Ezequiel Ponce in action with Bayern Munich's Mats Hummels REUTERS/Michael Dalder

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller in action with AEK Athens' Kostas Galanopoulos REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 AEK Athens' Vasilis Barkas and Dmytro Chygrynskiy in action with Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka and Javi Martinez REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 AEK Athens' Niklas Hult in action with Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 Bayern Munich's Mats Hummels in action with AEK Athens' Ezequiel Ponce REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 AEK Athens' Andre Simoes in action with Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - Bayern Munich v AEK Athens - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - November 7, 2018 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski in action with AEK Athens' Dmytro Chygrynskiy REUTERS/Andreas Gebert