Foden Hat-Trick Fires Manchester City to 5-1 Win Over AEK Athens in Champions League
Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, October 20, in matchday 3 of the Champions League. It was Foden's first Champions League hat-trick, and City moved up to sixth in the league phase table with six points.
City made a number of changes, as coach Enzo Maresca gave chances to fringe players. Top scorer Erling Haaland, who had been rested after an injury scare, stayed on the bench throughout. Youngster Floyd Samba started in his place up front, but the night belonged to Foden.
Elliot Anderson opened the scoring with his first goal for the club. Foden then doubled the lead in the 34th minute, after a pass from Rico Lewis, who finished the night with two assists. AEK found one moment of quality at the start of the second half. In the 52nd minute, Stavros Pilios received a pass from Zini and fired past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Pilios became the first Albanian player to score in the Champions League since Berat Djimsiti did so for Atalanta in October 2024.
AEK's hopes of a comeback did not last long. City responded within five minutes. In the 57th minute, Rayan Cherki finished a pass from Foden to restore the two-goal cushion. Foden then took his tally to two in the 65th minute and completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute. He tapped in from close range after a cross from substitute Ryan McAidoo, who had come on in the 62nd minute.
Foden became only the third Englishman to score a hat-trick and register an assist in the same Champions League match, after Wayne Rooney (for Manchester United against Fenerbahçe in September 2004) and Raheem Sterling (for City against Atalanta in October 2019). It was also the first time a City player has scored a Champions League hat-trick since Haaland scored five against RB Leipzig in March 2023. Foden now has 23 goals in the competition.
City had 17 shots to AEK's 11, with an expected goals total of 2.84 to 0.72. AEK are 27th in the table with three points. City face Aston Villa away in the Premier League on Saturday, while AEK host Real Madrid in Athens on November 4.