Anderson and Foden Put City Two Up

Manchester City thrashed AEK Athens 5-1 in UEFA Champions League 2026/2027 league phase matchday 3 at the Etihad Stadium, early Wednesday (21/10/2026) WIB. Phil Foden was the star of the show with a hat-trick that powered his side to a convincing victory.

City took the lead in the 12th minute through Elliot Anderson. The early goal gave the hosts confidence as they kept pressing the AEK Athens defence. Phil Foden doubled the lead to 2-0 in the 34th minute, a scoreline that held until half-time.

AEK Athens briefly threatened early in the second half. Stavros Pilios pulled one back to make it 2-1 in the 52nd minute and briefly worried the Etihad crowd. But City's response was swift and ruthless.

Foden Hat-trick Fires Man City to 5-1 Win Over AEK
Rayan Cherki celebrating a goal for Manchester City (illustration photo, not from the match against AEK Athens on 20/21 October 2026). (Photo: MCFC France) (Source: MCFC France)

Cherki and Two More for Foden

Rayan Cherki restored City's two-goal cushion in the 57th minute. The Frenchman's strike broke the visitors' momentum and opened the floodgates for the hosts in the remainder of the match.

Phil Foden then added two more goals in the 66th and 76th minutes to complete his hat-trick and make it 5-1. Each strike was greeted with roars from the supporters packing the Etihad Stadium.

The hat-trick against AEK Athens was recorded as the fourth of Phil Foden's Manchester City career. The England midfielder's brilliant display proved once again that he remains one of the most decisive players in Enzo Maresca's squad.

The Perfect Response After the PSG Defeat

The emphatic victory was the perfect response from Manchester City after their defeat to PSG last week. Three points against AEK Athens also marked City's second Champions League win this season and kept their league-phase hopes alive.

Notably, City achieved this big win without Erling Haaland, who was not involved. In his place, 17-year-old striker Floyd Samba was trusted to start — a bold decision that underlined the depth of City's squad.

With this 5-1 victory, Manchester City sent a firm message to their European rivals. Their attack remains razor-sharp even without their main goal machine, and Phil Foden once again proved himself the difference-maker on the big stage.