Sports

UEFA president France's Michel Platini jokes during a press conference in Vienna. Platini voiced confidence that Spain would not be excluded from Euro 2008 because of an ongoing row with FIFA over perceived government interference in the running of the country's football federation.

(AFP/Samuel Kubani)

UEFA President Michel Platini, left, and Martin Kallen EURO 2008 SA COO are seen during a news conference about current status of UEFA EURO 2008 preparations at the UEFA EURO 2008 Finalits' Workshop in Vienna on Wednesday March 12, 2008.

(AP Photo/Hans Punz)

Bayern Munich's French player Franck Ribery(C) and his teammates acknowledge their fans after inflicting a 5-0 defeat on Andrelecht in the UEFA quarter-finals in Brussels.

(AFP/John Thys)

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Bayern Munich virtually made sure of their place in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals with a 5-0 demolition of Belgian side Anderlecht here on Thursday.

The German giants were in front after just nine minutes when Turkish international Hamit Altintop found the target with a 30-metre drive.

The night got more comfortable for Bayern, who were missing rested goalkeeper Oliver Kahn as well as the injured Lucio and Ze Roberto, when Anderlecht's Polish defender Marcin Wasilewski was sent-off for a foul on Luca Toni on the stroke of half-time.

The Italian international striker added the second goal for Bayern in first half injury time before Lukas Podolski made it 3-0 in the 57th minute.

Miroslav Klose, who came on as a half-time substitite, put away the fourth in the 67th minute from a pass from fellow replacement Frank Ribery.

The French midfielder completed the scoring with a 20-metre free-kick four minutes from the end as Bayern celebrated their first win in five European visits to Anderlecht.

"I'm very happy," said Ribery. "It's always special to score a free-kick like that.

"It was a good match for us. We are the favourites for the UEFA Cup and I really believe that if we play all of our matches as seriously as this one then we can do it."

Chelsea's German midfielder Michael Ballack applauds the supporters after beating Olympiakos 3-0 in their UEFA Champions League football match against Olympiakos at Stamford Bridge, London.

(AFP/Paul Ellis)