Manchester City defeated AEK Athens 5-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with Phil Foden scoring a hat-trick at the Etihad Stadium. Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also scored as City claimed their second victory in the competition's league phase, strengthening their position after an earlier defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The victory demonstrated City's attacking strength despite manager Enzo Maresca making eight changes to the team that beat Ipswich Town over the weekend. Erling Haaland remained on the bench throughout the match, while 17-year-old Floyd Samba received an opportunity to lead the attack.
Manchester City Takes Early Control
City immediately pressured the Greek champions and broke through in the 12th minute. Samba won a free kick near the penalty area, allowing Enzo Fernández to deliver a powerful shot that struck the crossbar.
Anderson reacted quickly to the rebound and finished from close range, scoring his first goal for Manchester City. The early breakthrough gave the home side control and forced AEK Athens to defend against repeated attacks.
Brazilian winger Allan almost doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute when his powerful effort struck the crossbar. City continued creating opportunities through the movement of Foden, Cherki and Rico Lewis, while the visitors struggled to retain possession in dangerous areas.
Foden extended the lead in the 34th minute after combining with Lewis on the right side of the penalty area. The England international finished the move from close range, giving City a 2-0 advantage heading toward halftime.
The goal continued Foden's return to form after a difficult scoring period. He had gone approximately 10 months without finding the net before scoring against Ipswich Town on October 17.
AEK Athens Briefly Threatens a Comeback
AEK Athens entered the second half needing a quick response and produced one in the 52nd minute. Stavros Pilios completed a counterattack with a low shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, reducing City's lead to 2-1.
The goal offered the visitors a brief opportunity to change the direction of the match. However, City responded almost immediately and restored its two-goal advantage just five minutes later.
Cherki received a pass from Foden inside the penalty area, shifted the ball onto his left foot and directed a precise finish into the bottom corner. His goal in the 57th minute ended AEK's brief resurgence and returned control to the home side.
The Greek team continued trying to move forward but had difficulty finding openings against City's defense. Captain Harold Moukoudi and his teammates faced sustained pressure as Maresca's players maintained their attacking rhythm.
Foden Completes His Hat-Trick
Foden scored his second goal in the 65th minute after another combination with Lewis. The full-back supplied his second assist of the evening, allowing Foden to finish confidently and increase the advantage to 4-1.
The England midfielder completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute after substitute Ryan McAidoo delivered a cross into the penalty area. Foden converted from close range to complete the scoring and secure a commanding victory.
The performance marked Foden's first hat-trick since April 2024 and his first in the Champions League. It was also the fourth hat-trick of his Manchester City career.
Foden contributed more than goals during the match. He also supplied the pass for Cherki's strike and helped organize City's attacking play through his movement and passing.
Speaking to TNT Sports afterward, Foden acknowledged that his performances were improving but said he still had work to do. He emphasized his determination to continue developing and contribute more consistently to the team.
His three goals followed his weekend strike against Ipswich, giving him four goals across two appearances. The improvement was especially important for a player who had recently struggled to reproduce his best attacking form.
Maresca's Squad Rotation Pays Off
Maresca's selection demonstrated the depth available within Manchester City's squad. Despite leaving Haaland unused, City maintained an effective attack and created chances through several different players.
Samba played an important role in the opening goal by winning the free kick that eventually produced Anderson's finish. Allan also impressed in his Champions League debut, coming close to scoring during the first half.
Lewis provided two assists for Foden, while McAidoo contributed immediately after entering the match as a substitute. Their involvement gave the victory an added significance for a club with a strong emphasis on developing younger players.
Maresca praised Foden after the match, describing him as one of England's most talented players. The manager also expressed satisfaction with the squad's ability to respond after its Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.
His decision to make eight changes had presented a challenge, particularly against opponents seeking to improve their own European campaign. The resulting performance showed that City's attacking approach could remain effective without several regular starters.
AEK Athens manager Marko Nikolic acknowledged the difference in finishing quality between the teams. He said his players had wanted to attack rather than simply defend but admitted that City punished their mistakes.
City Strengthens Its European Campaign
The victory was Manchester City's 10th win in 12 matches across all competitions this season, according to Sky Sports. It also represented an important recovery after the club's previous Champions League defeat.
The Etihad Stadium recorded an attendance of 40,042, leaving noticeable empty seats despite the significance of the European fixture. Supporters who attended witnessed one of City's strongest attacking performances of the season.
The result provided another boost for Maresca, who took charge of the club in June 2026 following Pep Guardiola's departure. His team has maintained an excellent domestic record while working to establish momentum in Europe.
The Champions League now operates through a league-phase format rather than the former traditional four-team groups. Each result contributes to the overall standings, which determine direct qualification for the round of 16 and places in the knockout playoffs.
City's five-goal performance improved its position after three league-phase matches, although qualification remains undecided. Its next scheduled Champions League fixture is an away match against RB Leipzig on November 4.
For Foden, the immediate challenge is maintaining the form that produced three goals and an assist against AEK Athens. His return to scoring gives Manchester City another attacking option as the club continues its domestic and European campaigns.