Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed AEK Athens 5-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night. The emphatic victory at the Etihad Stadium was City's second win in the competition this season and showed their formidable attacking depth, extending their current winning run to two games.
Elliot Anderson opened the scoring with his first goal for the club in the 12th minute. Foden doubled the lead before half-time, finishing from a Rico Lewis assist. AEK's Stavros Pilios pulled one back early in the second half, but City responded immediately through Rayan Cherki. Foden then completed his treble with two more goals in the second half, assisted again by Lewis and substitute Ryan McAidoo. This commanding performance followed a 3-2 league win over Ipswich on Saturday 17 October, where Foden and Erling Haaland were also on the scoresheet.
Manager and player reaction
AEK Athens manager Marko Nikolic conceded his side were outclassed. "City punished every mistake and deserved the victory," he said after the match. Foden, whose last hat-trick was over ten months ago in April 2024, played down his performance.
Context and next steps
The result keeps Manchester City in a commanding position at the top of the Premier League, where they have a perfect 21 points from seven games. They are three points clear of Arsenal and have scored 19 league goals this season, conceding only seven for a goal difference of plus twelve. Erling Haaland, the club's top scorer with eight goals in seven appearances, was named on the bench but did not feature, with Floyd Samba deputising up front. The team's recent form of four wins and one loss from their last five matches includes a 2-4 defeat to Paris Saint Germain on Wednesday 14 October, but they have since responded with consecutive victories.
Enzo Maresca's side now turn their attention back to domestic matters. Their next fixture is a Premier League away match against Aston Villa on Saturday 24 October. Villa currently sit 12th in the table. City's recent form shows four wins from their last five matches across all competitions.
Manager Enzo Maresca said Phil Foden is now returning to his best form after his hat-trick against AEK Athens. Maresca told the club's newsroom, "I consider him one of the best English players... We are sure that he’s going to help us this season." The win was City's second in a row, maintaining their perfect start domestically where they are 1st in the Premier League with 21 points from seven games.
