Phil Foden scores hat-trick in Manchester City's 5-1 victory over AEK Athens

OPA WIRE, Oct 20 (OPA) — Phil Foden delivered a standout performance, scoring three times to secure a comfortable win for Manchester City. The midfielder, who has struggled for consistency, capitalized on the absence of injured forward Antoine Semenyo to stake his claim for a regular starting role. Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also found the net, while Stavros Pilios scored the lone goal for the visitors.

City manager Enzo Maresca praised Foden’s contribution, noting that the club has been working to help the player regain his top form. "I consider Phil one of the best English players," Maresca said. "For different reasons in the last two or three years, he was not good enough. But I know how good he is." The match also featured a debut for 17-year-old Floyd Samba, who became the club's second-youngest Champions League starter.

The victory was played out in front of an unusually small crowd of 40,042, with large sections of the Etihad Stadium remaining empty. The attendance figures drew attention given the club's recent history of high-profile European fixtures. Despite the atmosphere, City’s tactical fluidity was evident, particularly in the build-up play between Cherki, Rico Lewis, and Foden throughout the 90 minutes.

City now look toward their upcoming Premier League fixture against Brighton. While the club expects a full house for domestic action, the Champions League group phase continues to present challenges in filling the stadium. Foden’s resurgence provides a positive outlook for Maresca as the team navigates a busy schedule without their primary striker, Haaland, who remains sidelined with a knock.