Champions League: Foden hat-trick as Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5-1

Manchester City are back to winning ways in the Champions League. In their matchday three game on Tuesday 20 October 2026, Pep Guardiola's side beat Greek club AEK Athens 5-1 at home. Phil Foden was the hero of the night, scoring a hat-trick.

How the match unfolded

Elliot Anderson opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Foden added his first in the 34th minute, and the hosts led 2-0 at half-time.

AEK managed to reply after the break. Stavros Pilios pulled one back in the 52nd minute. The visitors did not enjoy it for long: five minutes later, in the 57th minute, Rayan Cherki made it 3-1.

Foden dominated the closing stages. The England midfielder scored in the 65th minute and then got his third in the 76th minute, completing the hat-trick and sealing the result.

Manchester City 5-1 AEK Athens (2-0)

• 1-0 Elliot Anderson 12'
• 2-0 Phil Foden 34'
• 2-1 Stavros Pilios 52'
• 3-1 Rayan Cherki 57'
• 4-1 Phil Foden 65'
• 5-1 Phil Foden 76'

The table

Before this game City had three points from two matches: one win and one defeat. After beating AEK they have six. BBC Sport describes the win as a return to winning ways in the group phase after their earlier defeat.

In other Tuesday matches in this round, Liverpool came back from 2-0 down to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield. The match was refereed by Poland's Szymon Marciniak. Meanwhile FC Porto, who have Polish players in their squad, lost to PSV.