Manchester City defeats AEK 5-1 in Champions League

On October 20, 2026, Manchester City secured a decisive 5-1 victory over AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium during the third matchday of the UEFA Champions League League Phase. The English side dominated the encounter, with Phil Foden emerging as the key figure by scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist. The scoring began in the 12th minute when Elliot Anderson capitalized on a rebound from a direct free-kick by Enzo Fernandez that hit the crossbar. Despite AEK's initial efforts to maintain possession, the intensity and tactical pressure from the home team proved overwhelming.

Heading into the match, there was significant uncertainty regarding the fitness of Manchester City's star striker Erling Haaland, who missed training due to minor discomfort. Ultimately, Haaland did not play, yet City maintained high efficiency. AEK, managed by Marko Nikolic, struggled to contain the opposition's offensive depth. The victory was historic for Foden, marking his first career hat-trick in the Champions League, achieved in his 70th appearance in the competition. For AEK, the match underscored a difficult European campaign as they aim to regroup for domestic fixtures, while Manchester City successfully bounced back from their previous loss to Paris Saint-Germain.