December 21, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 10, 1428

LONDON, Dec 20: Italy striker Luca Toni’s four goals fired former European champions Bayern Munich into the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup after a 6-0 rout of Aris Salonika in their final group game on Wednesday.

Victory in Munich sent the Bundesliga leaders through as Group F winners and means Bayern will avoid one of the eight third-placed Champions League sides who enter the last 32 draw on Friday.

Toni, fully fit after a recent hamstring strain, pounced twice from close range in the first half after blunders from goal-keeper Konstantinos Chalkias and added two in quick succession midway through the second period.

Christian Lell and Philipp Lahm completed the demolition while Frenchman Franck Ribery was in sparkling form for Bayern.

Bayern, who top the Bundesliga heading into the long mid-season break, handed a recall to goal-keeper Oliver Kahn.

Kahn was hit with a 25,000 euros fine and a one-match suspension last week after he criticised two of his team mates and left the club’s Christmas party early.

Aris were eliminated with Braga, 2-0 winners over Red Star Belgrade, and Bolton Wanderers, also progressing from the group.

Galatasaray, the 2000 winners, sneaked through as the third-place finishers in Group H after they drew 0-0 at home to Austria Vienna and Panionios contrived to lose 3-2 at home to a virtual Girondins Bordeaux reserve side after being 2-0 up. The final is in Manchester on May 14.

Results:

Group E

FC Zurich 0 Bayer Leverkusen 5

Toulouse 2 Spartak Moscow 1

Group F

Bayern Munich 6 Aris Salonika 0

Braga 2 Red Star Belgrade 0

Group G

Getafe 2 Anderlecht 1

Hapoel Tel Aviv 1 AaB Aalborg 3

Group H

Galatasaray 0 Austria Vienna 0

Panionios 2 Girondins Bordeaux 3

—Reuters