Phil Foden produced a virtuoso performance, scoring a hat-trick and setting up another goal to lead Manchester City to a 5-1 win. The England midfielder completed his treble with a glorious first-time strike into the top corner followed by a close-range finish 11 minutes later, marking a sharp return to form after his weekend goal. Manchester City required this dominant display to bounce back from their 4-2 home defeat against Paris St-Germain last week, demonstrating a swift reaction under manager Enzo Maresca.
For Manchester City, this victory in the Champions League serves as a critical confidence boost following a challenging outing against the holders. The performance highlights the depth of the squad's attacking options, with Foden stepping up as a key goalscoring alternative. The match underscored a tactical shift, as players like Rico Lewis enjoyed the freedom to drive forward, setting up two of Foden's goals while the team maintained pressure on the Greek side throughout the second half.
According to the BBC, Elliot Anderson opened the scoring by reacting first to a ball rebounding off the crossbar, which had been struck by Enzo Fernandez. While AEK Athens briefly responded seven minutes into the second half with a goal from Stavros Pilios, City regained total control. Rayan Cherki added to the tally with a trademark finish assisted by Foden. Defensively, captain Ruben Dias led in tackles, while Abdukodir Khusanov recorded more interceptions than any other player on the pitch. Manchester City now shifts its focus to domestic competition, aiming to maintain a flawless start in the Premier League as they prepare to travel to face Aston Villa this coming Saturday.