Manchester City routed AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, powered by a Champions League hat-trick from Phil Foden. Handed a central false nine role with Erling Haaland rested, the 26-year-old playmaker also added an assist to join elite company in European competition.
Phil Foden Stars in Central Role During 5-1 Victory
Manager Enzo Maresca made eight changes from the side that defeated Ipswich Town, keeping Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias, and Foden in the starting lineup. Star striker Erling Haaland was named in the matchday squad but given the evening off after picking up a foot injury in the previous fixture. That absence opened the door for Maresca to test a tactical adjustment he had previously envisioned.
Starting on the right flank, Foden drifted into a central false nine position as the match progressed, a tactical adjustment that unlocked the home attack. A brief defensive lapse at the start of the second half saw the visitors pull a goal back to make it 2-1, but the hosts quickly rediscovered their rhythm and pulled away before the final whistle.
My goal is to maintain my strong work ethic and constantly deliver top performances for both the coach and my teammates.
Foden’s night ended with three goals and an assist, giving him a hand in four of his side’s five goals. His second strike of the evening drew widespread praise, with the playmaker opening up his body and caressing a first-time effort into the top corner from just inside the penalty area.
Phil Foden Enters Elite European Company
By scoring three times and setting up another goal against AEK Athens at the Etihad Stadium, Foden etched his name into the Champions League record books. He became only the third Englishman to register a hat-trick and an assist in a single fixture in the tournament’s history.
- Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2004
- Raheem Sterling for Manchester City in 2019
- Phil Foden for Manchester City on Tuesday
Following a 2023-24 campaign where he netted 19 goals and claimed the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year award, Foden struggled for consistency across two difficult seasons, missing out on England’s World Cup squad last summer and receiving a red card in the Manchester derby in September. Despite a 31-game scoreless drought for club and country that stretched toward the end of the previous term, he signed a new four-year contract in July.
Midfielder Reclaims Form After Drought
Foden ended a ten-month Premier League goal drought against Ipswich Town over the weekend before carrying that momentum onto the continental stage. When asked if he has returned to his peak form, the 26-year-old struck a measured tone.
Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott argued on TNT Sports that the performance established a reliable fallback option when the team’s primary talisman is sidelined.
Beautiful – that’s the word I would use to describe him. His finishing was exquisite. I believe he has now persuaded the boss that if Erling Haaland has to miss any matches over the course of the campaign, he represents the ideal solution to fill the central striker role.
Manager Enzo Maresca expressed satisfaction with the midfielder’s output and attitude, noting that his belief in the player dates back to the start of his tenure. Former England winger Ashley Young, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, added that Foden seized his chance with both hands, ensuring his manager did not need to prematurely summon Haaland or Jeremy Doku from the bench.
