Phil Foden hat-trick leads Manchester City past AEK Athens 5-1
Phil Foden scored his first Champions League hat-trick as Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad, with Erling Haaland left on the bench throughout.
By MatchPulse Editorial Team
Match played: Tuesday 20 October 2026, UEFA Champions League league phase, Etihad Stadium.
Phil Foden scored three times as Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5-1 on Tuesday night, a comfortable win that came with Erling Haaland watching from the bench. It was Foden's first hat-trick in the Champions League and City's second win of this season's league phase.
Anderson opens his account
City were ahead after 12 minutes. Elliot Anderson scored his first goal for the club, converting from an Enzo Fernández free-kick. Foden made it 2-0 in the 34th minute, and City went in at half-time in control.
AEK briefly threatened a comeback when Stavros Pilios scored in the 52nd minute, but the response was immediate. Rayan Cherki restored the two-goal lead five minutes later, and Foden completed the scoring with goals in the 65th and 76th minutes.
Goals: Anderson 12', Foden 34', Pilios 52' (AEK), Cherki 57', Foden 65', Foden 76'.
A changed line-up, and no Haaland
Enzo Maresca made several changes. Haaland was named among the substitutes but did not come on, and 17-year-old Floyd Samba started. The decision to rest Haaland drew attention because of the striker's importance to City and because the team travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.
Maresca praised Foden's quality after the game and said he was pleased with the performance despite the number of changes. Foden himself was measured: he said he still has "a long way" to go to return to his best form.
AEK coach Marko Nikolić described City's finishing as "brutal" and suggested his side may have shown City too much respect.
Context: a response after Paris
The result followed a 4-2 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in City's previous Champions League match, leaving them with two wins from three in the league phase. Sky Sports noted that it was City's 10th win in 12 matches in all competitions this season.
Domestically, City have won all seven of their Premier League matches so far and sit top of the table.
Analysis: The value of this win went beyond the three points. Maresca was able to rotate heavily before a demanding league fixture and still produce a decisive scoreline, while Foden, whose form has been under scrutiny, delivered the kind of performance that strengthens his claim for a regular place. The one concern is defensive: City have conceded in several recent games, and AEK's goal early in the second half was another reminder that the team can still be opened up.
What comes next
City visit Aston Villa on Saturday 24 October (12:30 BST kick-off) in the Premier League. Haaland's availability for that game was confirmed by Maresca at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
