Foden hits hat-trick as City sweep AEK aside 5-1
Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium on 20 October.
It was City's 150th game in the Champions League. And it was a strong reply after defeat to Paris on Matchday 2. BBC
Foden ran the night. He scored three of the five and had a hand in four. He grabbed City's fourth goal as part of that haul in the 2026/27 competition.
Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki were also on the scoresheet for City. Manchester City AEK, the Greek champions, had arrived after a loss to Shakhtar.
City manager Enzo Maresca made eight changes from the side that beat Ipswich. Only Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias and Foden kept their places.
Erling Haaland was named in the squad but given the night off. He had taken a blow to the foot in the previous game.
Foden started on the right. He later moved into the false nine, a striker who drops deep to link play rather than leading the line.
He looked at home there. Maresca suggested Foden could offer a "solution" in that role, and former City defender Joleon Lescott said on TNT Sports that Foden had convinced the manager he is the man to play at number nine if Haaland is unavailable.
Foden told TNT Sports afterwards that he "really enjoyed" playing the role. UEFA still lists him as a midfielder.
The timing matters. Foden scored his first Premier League goal in 10 months against Ipswich on 17 October. Three days later, he ran a European tie.
What makes this stand out is the company he joined. Foden became only the third Englishman to score a hat-trick and provide an assist in a Champions League match. Wayne Rooney did it for Manchester United in 2004. Raheem Sterling did it for City in 2019.
For fans, this means options. City can rest Haaland without losing punch. Maresca said he was pleased with the way his young stars performed.
The history adds colour. Before kick-off at 20:00 UK time, City had won 83 of their first 149 Champions League matches, scoring 313 goals and conceding 180. Number 150 was one of the loudest.
