Manchester City bounced back from their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, thrashing Greek side AEK Athens 5-1 in the UEFA Champions League. The standout performer was Phil Foden, who produced a superb hat-trick to lead the English champions to a convincing victory.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca opted to leave Norwegian striker Erling Haaland on the bench, but his side showed they had more than enough firepower without their prolific forward. Elliot Anderson opened the scoring by reacting quickest after Enzo Fernandez struck the crossbar, turning the rebound into the net.

Foden then doubled City's advantage after a sweeping attacking move, capping an impressive team combination with a clinical finish. The hosts looked firmly in control, but AEK Athens briefly threatened to make a contest of it by pulling a goal back early in the second half.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished by Rayan Cherki, who restored City's two-goal cushion with a dazzling solo effort. The momentum was back with the English side, and Foden took centre stage once again, scoring twice more to complete his hat-trick and seal a commanding 5-1 triumph.

2026-27, Champions League

Man City - AEK 5:1 (2:0)
Goals: Anderson E., 12 (1:0); Foden, 34 (2:0); Pilios, 52 (2:1); Cherki, 57 (3:1); Foden, 65 (4:1); Foden, 76 (5:1)

Man City: Donnarumma G.; Dias R. (Braithwaite, 83); Gvardiol (Vitor Reis, 72); Khusanov; Lewis R.; Anderson E.; Fernandez E. (Aït-Nouri, 72); Foden; Cherki; Allan (McAidoo, 62)
Substitution: McAidoo (from 62); Aït-Nouri (from 72); Vitor Reis (from 72); Braithwaite (from 83)
Bench: Bettinelli; Rulli; Guehi; Bouaddi; Ndiaye Il.; Håland E.; Doku J.
Yellow Cards: Gvardiol 59

AEK: Brignoli; Moukoudi H.; Pilios; Rota; Relvas; Arriaga (Gacinovic, 83); Majer L.; Marin R. (Koita A., 46); Joao Mario (Zubkov, 64); Jovic (Vitalis, 83); Varga B. (Zini, 46)
Substitution: Koita A. (from 46); Zini (from 46); Zubkov (from 64); Gacinovic (from 83); Vitalis (from 83)
Bench: Vida; Lykogiannis; Kairinen; Mantalos