Manchester City produced a convincing European performance at the Etihad Stadium, defeating AEK Athens 5-1 as Phil Foden delivered a superb hat-trick to help his side secure three important Champions League points.
With Enzo Maresca rotating his squad during a demanding run of fixtures, City demonstrated the strength of their attacking options. Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also found the net, while Foden’s outstanding contribution made him the standout performer on a memorable night for the home side.
Anderson Makes His Mark
City wasted little time establishing control, with Anderson opening the scoring in the 12th minute.
Enzo Fernández struck a free-kick against the underside of the crossbar, and Anderson reacted quickly to collect the rebound and finish from close range. It was a significant moment for the midfielder, who registered his first goal since joining City.
The hosts continued to create opportunities, with Brazilian winger Allan coming close to extending their advantage when his effort struck the woodwork.
Foden eventually provided the second goal in the 34th minute. Rico Lewis helped create the opening, allowing the England international to finish and give City a comfortable cushion heading into the break.
AEK Respond, but Cherki Restores City’s Control
AEK Athens gave themselves a lifeline shortly after half-time when Stavros Pilios scored in the 52nd minute.
The goal briefly reduced City’s advantage and offered the visitors a chance to make the contest more competitive. However, the response from Maresca’s side was immediate.
Cherki restored the two-goal margin in the 57th minute with a composed finish after creating space inside the penalty area. His contribution put City back in control and left AEK with another difficult challenge.
The French playmaker’s goal proved an important turning point, as the hosts regained their attacking rhythm and continued to threaten the Greek side’s defence
Foden Completes a Brilliant Hat-Trick
Foden took centre stage during the final stages, adding two more goals to turn a strong performance into a commanding victory.
His second of the evening arrived in the 65th minute, with Lewis again involved in the build-up. The midfielder found the space he needed inside the area and finished confidently to extend City’s lead to 4-1.
Eleven minutes later, Foden completed his hat-trick, meeting a cross from substitute Ryan McAidoo and finishing to seal the result.
The treble was Foden’s fourth career hat-trick for Manchester City and continued his encouraging return to form after ending a lengthy wait for a league goal against Ipswich Town at the weekend.
His display offered further evidence of the attacking influence he can provide as City navigate a crowded schedule across domestic and European competitions.
Squad Rotation Brings Positive Signs for Maresca
Maresca made eight changes to the side that defeated Ipswich 3-2 in the Premier League, giving several players an opportunity to contribute while managing the demands on his squad.
Teenage forward Floyd Samba was among those selected from the start, while Anderson, Allan and Lewis also made valuable contributions.
Erling Haaland remained on the bench and was not introduced, with City finding five goals through other attacking options. The result highlighted the value of having several players capable of influencing matches rather than relying on one primary source of goals.
Although AEK managed to score, City controlled the contest for long periods and responded decisively when the visitors threatened to build momentum.
City Strengthen Their European Position
The victory marked Manchester City’s 150th match in the UEFA Champions League and provided an important boost after their 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European outing.
City now have six points from their opening three matches in the league phase, strengthening their position as they pursue a place in the next stage of the competition.
Attention will soon turn to the next challenge, with a trip to face RB Leipzig scheduled for 4 November. Before that, City return to Premier League action away to Aston Villa.
For Maresca, the victory delivered more than three points. Anderson opened his City scoring account, Cherki continued to demonstrate his creative quality, and Foden produced a performance that could prove valuable as the season gathers pace.
City’s five-goal display also showed that, even amid a demanding fixture schedule, their attacking threat can come from across the squad.
