Bayern Munich power to UEFA Cup last 16

MUNICH, Germany -- Germany striker Lukas Podolski returned from injury with two second-half goals as Bayern Munich booked their place in the UEFA Cup's last 16 with a 5-1 win over Aberdeen on Thursday.

The German giants were rarely troubled at the Allianz Arena on Thursday night, fielding nine internationals in the starting line-up, and sweeping through 7-3 win on aggregate.

"I am content with the win and, of course, there are things we can improve on," said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld, who made three second-half changes.

"With so many games in the next few weeks, it was good to be able to use the bench and not worry about taking a risk. The whole squad did well."

After drawing the first leg 2-2 at Aberdeen's Pittodrie Stadium in Scotland last week Bayern were in full control back on their home turf.

Their heavy win capped a good night for Germany's Bundesliga sides with Bayer Leverkusen routing Galatasaray 5-1 and Hamburg drawing 0-0 with FC Zurich as all three sides went through to the last 16.

Brazilian defender Lucio put Bayern on the road to victory when he curled his free-kick over the wall and through the despairing grasp of Scottish goalkeeper Jamie Langfield on 12 minutes.

A pin-point accurate header from Belgium defender Daniel van Buyten on 36 minutes made it 2-0.

And Bayern were on cruise control when Podolski, back in the side after recovering from a slipped disc suffered in training last month, rifled home his shot on 71 minutes to make the result safe.

Podolski, voted best young player at the 2006 World Cup, then enjoyed some luck as the ball hit his shoulder on 77 minutes and rolled past Langfield.

Aberdeen managed to pull a goal back when striker Steve Lovell scored four minutes after coming off the bench, but Bayern's Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel smashed his shot home five minutes from time to seal the win.

The next round will take place early next month with the final on May 14 in Manchester -- and one Scottish club still hoping to make the short journey south are Glasgow Rangers.

Nacho Novo made up for missing a hatful of chances in the first leg to score a late goal in Rangers' 1-1 draw at Panathinaikos to earn a place in the last 16.

The Spaniard pounced on a loose ball nine minutes from full-time to beat keeper Mario Galinovic and give the Scots a place in the next round on the away goals rule.

Ioannis Goumas had given Panathinaikos a 12th-minute lead with a fierce 25-yard drive.

Rangers boss Walter Smith praised Novo saying: "He deserved the goal for all the effort he put in. I know he was disappointed after the first leg but he showed great composure with his finish tonight."

Sporting Lisbon, Anderlecht, Getafe, Benfica, Marseille and Zenit St Petersburg, who beat Villarreal on the away goals rule, are others to have progressed. E-mail to a friend