Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich's Rafinha in action with AEK Athens' Tasos Bakasetas REUTERS/Costas Baltas
ATHENS (Reuters) - Bayern Munich scored twice in two minutes to beat hosts AEK Athens 2-0 on Tuesday to continue their recovery from a recent dip in form and climb to the top of their Champions League Group E.
Javi Martinez volleyed in after 61 minutes and Robert Lewandowski tapped in their second goal two minutes later for their second win in three group matches.
The result gave the Bavarians a further shot of confidence after Saturday's league win at VfL Wolfsburg ended a four-game winless run in all competitions, and silenced any talk of a crisis.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez celebrates scoring their first goal with Mats Hummels and team mates REUTERS/Costas Baltas
The Greek champions did it well for about an hour but ultimately could not match Bayern's speed and power.
Bayern were in control of an entertaining first half, with Serge Gnabry and forward Lewandowski coming close several times.
AEK, who have yet to earn a point after three matches, carved out a couple of scoring chances as they caught the Bavarians off guard, with Ezequiel Ponce thundering a powerful shot narrowly wide.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
The hosts piled on further pressure after the break, pressing high and coming close with Viktor Klonaridis before Martinez' acrobatic volley silenced the crowd at the Olympic Stadium.
Bayern, who have never lost to a Greek club, home or away, quickly killed off the game two minutes later, with Lewandowski left with too much space in front of goal to slot it a Rafinha cutback.
Bayern are on seven points from three games, with Ajax Amsterdam, who take on Benfica later on Tuesday, on four. Benfica are on three.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry in action with AEK Athens' Michalis Bakakis REUTERS/Alkis KonstantinidisSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Alkis KonstantinidisSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Alkis KonstantinidisSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 (L - R) Bayern Munich's Niklas Sule, Leon Goretzka and Manuel Neuer celebrate after the match REUTERS/Costas BaltasSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Alkis KonstantinidisSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group E - AEK Athens v Bayern Munich - OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece - October 23, 2018 Bayern Munich fans REUTERS/Costas Baltas
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