Man City 5-1 AEK Athens: Phil Foden Hat-Trick Powers Maresca's Side to Second UCL Win

Phil Foden ended a long wait for goals in emphatic style on Tuesday night, scoring a hat-trick as Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5-1 in the Champions League. Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki were also on target as Enzo Maresca's side recovered from a 4-2 home defeat by Paris Saint-Germain a week earlier. The match kicked off at 3am Malaysia time on Wednesday.

Haaland rested, City still rampant

The biggest talking point before kick-off was Maresca's team sheet. Erling Haaland, the Premier League's top scorer with eight goals, was left on the bench and did not come on, with 17-year-old Floyd Samba starting in his place. City barely missed their main striker.

Anderson opened the scoring in the 12th minute, following up after an Enzo Fernández free-kick to claim his first goal for the club. City dominated the first half, piling up ten attempts, and Foden doubled the lead on 34 minutes.

Foden's night

AEK did not manage a shot on target until the 52nd minute, when Stavros Pilios pulled a goal back. Any hope of a comeback disappeared five minutes later when Cherki made it 3-1.

Foden then took over. He scored his second on 65 minutes and completed his hat-trick on 76 minutes with a tap-in set up by Ryan McAidoo. Rico Lewis supplied the assists for his first two goals. It was Foden's first hat-trick since April 2024, and he has now scored in consecutive matches after going ten months without a goal.

AEK coach Marko Nikolić was frank about the gap between the sides, saying "the quality in the finishing phase from City was brutal".

Table picture

The result moves City to six points from three matches. They opened with a 2-0 win away at Porto before the PSG defeat, so their goal difference now stands at +4. AEK, who beat LASK on matchday one but lost at Shakhtar Donetsk, stay on three points.

City are in a comfortable position for a top-24 finish, which is the minimum needed to stay in the competition beyond the league phase, though the top eight places that avoid the knockout play-off round will be contested by a long list of heavyweights. PSG and Liverpool lead the way on nine points after Tuesday.

Domestic form and what is next

City's European bounce-back matches their league form. They are the only side in the Premier League with a perfect record, seven wins from seven, and sit three points clear of Arsenal at the top after Saturday's 3-2 win over Ipswich Town.

The next test is a tricky one. City travel to Aston Villa on Saturday 24 October, with kick-off at 12.30pm UK time. That is 7.30pm in Malaysia. Villa arrive on the back of a 1-0 win at Newcastle and are unbeaten in their two Champions League games so far, but they sit 12th in the league with eight points.

Key takeaways

• Phil Foden scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over AEK Athens, his first treble since April 2024.
• Elliot Anderson scored his first City goal and Rayan Cherki also netted.
• Erling Haaland was an unused substitute as Maresca rotated.
• City now have six points from three Champions League games and remain perfect in the Premier League.

FAQ Q: Who scored Manchester City's goals against AEK Athens? A: Phil Foden scored three, with Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki adding one each. Stavros Pilios scored for AEK.

Q: Did Erling Haaland play against AEK Athens? A: No. Haaland was named on the bench but did not come on, with teenager Floyd Samba starting up front.

Q: When is Manchester City's next match? A: City visit Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday 24 October, kicking off at 7.30pm Malaysia time.

Sources: Sky Sports, Manchester City, VAVEL, UEFA