Manchester City produced an emphatic performance at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, beating AEK Athens 5–1 as Phil Foden scored a hat-trick to help his side secure their second victory in the UEFA Champions League league phase.
Elliot Anderson opened the scoring, while Rayan Cherki also found the net in a convincing display from Enzo Maresca’s team. Stavros Pilios scored AEK’s only goal, but City quickly restored their advantage and finished the match in control.
The result gave City six points from their opening three Champions League matches, following two wins and one defeat.
Elliot Anderson Gives Manchester City an Early Lead
City started brightly and took the lead in the 12th minute through Anderson, who reacted quickest after Enzo Fernández’s free-kick struck the crossbar.
The midfielder, who joined City during the summer transfer window, finished the rebound to register his first goal for the club.
City continued to create opportunities, with Allan coming close to extending the advantage when his effort struck the woodwork.
Their pressure eventually produced a second goal in the 34th minute, when Foden combined with Rico Lewis before finishing from close range.
The goal continued Foden’s encouraging return to scoring form after he had ended a lengthy wait for a goal during the weekend’s victory over Ipswich.
AEK Athens Briefly Threaten a Comeback
AEK Athens came out with greater urgency after the break and reduced the deficit seven minutes into the second half.
Stavros Pilios finished a counter-attacking move in the 52nd minute, giving the visitors a brief opportunity to put pressure on the hosts.
However, City responded five minutes later. Foden turned provider, setting up Cherki, who used a clever touch to create space before guiding a finish into the bottom corner.
The goal restored City’s two-goal cushion and halted AEK’s attempt to build momentum.
Foden Completes a Memorable Hat-Trick
Foden scored his second goal of the evening in the 65th minute, finishing a move involving Lewis to put City 4–1 ahead.
The England international then completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, converting a cross from substitute Ryan McAidoo.
It was Foden’s first hat-trick in the Champions League and his fourth hat-trick for Manchester City. His performance also continued a productive spell after his goal against Ipswich at the weekend.
The midfielder finished the match with three goals and an influential contribution to Cherki’s strike, underlining his importance to City’s attacking play.
Maresca Rotates His Squad as City Impress
Maresca made eight changes to the starting line-up following the weekend’s domestic fixture, giving several players an opportunity to impress.
Teenage forward Floyd Samba started in attack, while Erling Haaland remained an unused substitute. Allan was also handed an opportunity in a side that demonstrated its attacking options beyond its leading striker.
City’s performance combined early pressure, quick responses after conceding and clinical finishing. Although AEK managed to score, the hosts maintained control for much of the contest.
The match was also City’s 150th fixture in the UEFA Champions League.
What the Result Means for Manchester City
The 5–1 victory lifted City to six points from three league-phase matches, keeping them in contention for a strong position in the competition.
Their campaign had included a victory over Porto and a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain before Tuesday’s win over AEK Athens.
City will next turn their attention to domestic action against Aston Villa before travelling to face RB Leipzig in the Champions League on November 4.
For Foden, the hat-trick offers a significant boost as he looks to maintain his scoring form. For Maresca, the result also demonstrates the value of squad rotation and the contribution of younger players during a demanding run of fixtures.
Final score: Manchester City 5–1 AEK Athens
Goals: Elliot Anderson (12'), Phil Foden (34', 65', 76'), Rayan Cherki (57'); Stavros Pilios (52').