Phil Foden delivered a standout performance with an instinctive hat-trick as Manchester City defeated AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League. Manager Enzo Maresca had urged his side to generate their own momentum amidst off-field distractions, securing a businesslike victory in front of a reduced crowd at the Etihad Stadium following their previous defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Foden Shines in Varied Roles
Foden operated effectively on the right wing and later as a central striker, proving there is life for the team without Erling Haaland, who remained on the bench. The opposition struggled to match the Premier League side, whose other goals came from Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki. Stavros Pilios scored a consolation goal for AEK Athens, rewarding their vocal traveling supporters who maintained a lively atmosphere throughout the match.
Foden has experienced a challenging period, having scored his previous goal in mid-December and spent significant time on the sidelines, including a suspension following a red card in the Manchester derby. Reflecting on his return to form, Foden stated, “Slowly but surely. Still got a long way to go, but I am going in the right direction. Scoring along the way definitely helps. I want to keep working hard and keep being the best I can for the manager and the team. When I changed into that false 9 role, I enjoyed it a lot. Really enjoyed that role tonight.”
Team Selection and Match Progression
Maresca made eight changes to his starting lineup, recalling Enzo Fernández and Anderson while keeping Haaland in reserve. With senior attacking options limited by an eight-week injury to Antoine Semenyo, 17-year-old academy graduate Floyd Samba was brought on as a substitute for his second senior appearance.
The match drew a sparse home crowd due to fixture congestion and ticket costs, contrasting sharply with the energetic AEK Athens fans. AEK head coach Marko Nikolic remarked, “Our fans are amazing.”
Manchester City broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Fernández hit the crossbar with a free-kick, allowing Anderson to tap in the rebound. Foden later doubled the lead by finishing a precise move orchestrated by Rico Lewis on the right flank. Although Pilios briefly pulled a goal back for the visitors, Cherki restored City’s two-goal cushion with a neat piece of skill inside the penalty area followed by a low finish.
Academy Players Make Their Mark
As the match progressed, City asserted their dominance, with Cherki providing a long ball for Lewis to set up Foden for a sublime first-time strike into the top corner from the edge of the box. Late in the game, another academy substitute, Ryan McAidoo, delivered an accurate cross for Foden to head home his third goal and complete his hat-trick.
Praising the English midfielder after the final whistle, Maresca said, “I consider him one of the best English players but for different reasons in the last two-three years, he was not good enough – but I know how good he is. We are just trying to help him because we are sure that he’s going to help us this season.”
Source: Football | The Guardian
