Manchester City secured a 5-1 victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Phil Foden's hat-trick anchored the result and lifted City to sixth place with six points from three games. AEK Athens sit 27th with three points after three matches. Enzo Maresca confirmed Erling Haaland could feature again soon, while Marc Guehi praised the squad's strong team spirit and focus.
City controlled proceedings from the outset, creating sustained pressure that AEK struggled to contain. The hosts reached five goals while the visitors grabbed a single reply. The performance underlined City's ability to dominate matches in the competition despite a mixed start to their campaign.
Manchester City arrived with a form of WWLWW, having beaten Ipswich, Liverpool and Sunderland but losing to Paris Saint Germain. AEK Athens entered on LLWWW, securing three straight domestic wins yet suffering two European defeats. The contrast set up an intriguing clash between City's European experience and AEK's recent domestic momentum.
The 5-1 result extended City's positive run and reversed their sole recent setback against PSG. For AEK Athens the heavy loss ended their three-game winning streak and highlighted ongoing defensive issues on the continental stage. Both sides now turn attention to tightening their records.
City's improved cohesion offers encouragement ahead of tougher fixtures. Haaland's potential return adds further attacking options while the squad's reported unity should help maintain consistency. AEK Athens must regroup quickly to climb from 27th place.