Phil Foden hat-trick helps Manchester City sweep aside AEK Athens 5-1

Manchester City produced a dominant 5-1 victory over AEK Athens in the third round of the Champions League, with Phil Foden scoring three times at Emirates Stadium.

Rayan Cherki and Elliot Anderson were also on target for the English side, while Stavros Bello scored AEK Athens’ only goal.

Foden became the sixth Manchester City player to score a Champions League hat-trick. The result lifted City to six points and sixth place in the table, while AEK Athens dropped to 26th with three points.

City make changes

City manager Enzo Maresca made several alterations to his starting XI in order to rest key players.

Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi, Ayoub Bouaddi and Jeremy Doku were all named among the substitutes.

Floyd Samba led the attack, with Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Allan playing behind him.

Foden leads City response

Manchester City needed only 12 minutes to take the lead. Enzo Fernandez’s direct free-kick struck the crossbar, but Elliot Anderson was quickest to react and follow up into the net.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the 34th minute. Rico Lewis found Foden, who converted from inside the 18-yard area with a shot to make it 2-0.

AEK Athens reduced the deficit seven minutes into the second half. A quick counter-attack ended with Stavros Bello driving a low effort into the bottom-left corner in the 52nd minute.

City responded immediately. Three minutes later, Rayan Cherki beat a defender before sending a low shot into the goalkeeper’s right-hand corner to restore the hosts’ two-goal lead.

Foden added his second of the night and City’s fourth in the 66th minute, finishing a swift counter-attack with an excellent effort into the far corner.

He completed his hat-trick with 12 minutes remaining, turning a low cross into the net to seal a five-goal haul for Manchester City.

City will travel to face Leipzig in the next round of fixtures on 4 November, while AEK Athens will visit Real Madrid on the same day for the fourth round.