By Stevie Miller
A plucky Aberdeen side were outclassed by German giants Bayern Munich in the last-32 of the Uefa Cup.
Lucio's early free-kick settled any Bayern nerves and a Daniel van Buyten header doubled the home side's advantage on 36 minutes.
Lukas Podolski put the game beyond doubt with two second-half strikes which ended Aberdeen's European dream.
Steve Lovell grabbed a late consolation for the Dons, but Mark van Bommel completed the rout with a late drive.
Aberdeen had hoped to get off to a good start at the Allianz Arena, but it was Bayern who threatened early on when Luca Toni set up striker partner Podolski, but his fine volley struck the crossbar.
And Bayern soon opened the scoring from a free-kick after Alan Maybury tripped the dangerous Tony Kroos.
Andreas Ottl laid the ball off to Brazilian defender Lucio, who scored his first goal of the season with a fabulous shot over the wall.
Dons keeper Jamie Langfield then pulled off a fine close range save from Hamit Altintop as the midfielder raced on to a through ball from Podolski.
Darren Mackie passed up a great chance to get Aberdeen back into the match against the run of play when he skewed a shot from the edge of the box inches wide of the post.
Langfield again kept the Dons in the game when he blocked Toni's drilled effort with his legs after the Italian striker had outpaced Andrew Considine.
And Bayern's continued pressure paid off when Belgian defender Van Buyten headed past Langfield after Sone Aluko brought down teenager Kroos at the edge of the area.
Altintop then went close after a wonderful Bayern passing move but again Langfield was alert to the danger and blocked his close-range effort.
Bayern were completely on top as the first half came to a close and Lucio somehow hit the post from two yards out.
The Dons began the second half in positive fashion - Alan Maybury fired in a left-footed shot from almost forty yards out which flew just over.
Darren Mackie managed to force the ball past Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
The Germans sealed their place in the next round when Podolski pounced on Langfield's instinctive parry from Miroslav Klose's powerful drive to lash the ball into the roof of the net.
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Aberdeen's misery was further compounded when a Bastian Schweinsteiger corner was met by a fine header from Podolski to finish off the Dons' European adventure.
With only minutes remaining Kahn denied Nicholson the chance of a consolation with a close-range wondersave.
However, the Dons were not to be denied and from a free-kick on the left, Steve Lovell headed down and into the net to give the travelling Dons fans something to cheer.
But Bayern had the final say when Van Bommel rounded off the scoring with a terrific low shot from just inside the box.
Bayern Munich: Kahn, Sagnol, Lucio, Van Buyten, Jansen, Altintop (Schweinsteiger 75), Ottl, Van Bommel, Kroos (Sosa 69), Toni (Klose 65), Podolski. Subs not used: Rensing, Schlaudraff, Lahm, Lell.
Goals: Lucio 12, Van Buyten 36, Podolski 71, 77, van Bommel 85
Aberdeen: Langfield, Maybury, Diamond, Considine, Foster, Nicholson, Aluko (Lovell 79), Severin, Walker (Maguire 62), Mackie (De Visscher 72), Miller. Subs: Soutar, Touzani, Mair, Bus.
Goals: Lovell 83
Att: 66,000
Ref: Robert Malek (Poland)
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