Even in the absence of Norwegian goal-machine Erling Haaland, Manchester City staged a dominant goal-scoring display on the European stage, defeating Greek side AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium. English forward Phil Foden delivered a masterclass performance, scoring an unforgettable hat-trick and providing an assist to steal the spotlight.
Bouncing back from last week’s disappointing 4-2 home defeat against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Pep Guardiola’s side asserted control from the opening whistle to secure a emphatic and crucial victory.
Anderson’s Early Opener: City set an aggressive tempo early on. Enzo Fernández’s free-kick struck the crossbar, and Elliot Anderson pounced on the rebound with a precise finish to put the hosts ahead.
Foden Doubles the Lead: Phil Foden extended the advantage after collecting a pass from Rico Lewis and unleashing a sharp strike from outside the penalty box, marking his second consecutive match with a goal.
Athens Brief Resistance & Cherki’s Goal: Early in the second half, Stavros Pilios pulled one back for AEK Athens to make it 2-1. However, City swiftly regained momentum as Rayan Cherki converted a exquisite pass from Foden to restore the two-goal cushion (3-1).
Foden’s Sublime Hat-Trick: Foden added his second with a brilliant first-time volley into the corner of the net (4-1). Just eleven minutes later, he completed his hat-trick from close range, sealing a resounding 5-1 triumph for Manchester City.
