Manchester City beats AEK 5–1 behind Foden hat trick

Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5–1 on October 20, 2026, in Matchday 3 of the Champions League league phase. Phil Foden scored three times, with Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki adding the other goals. Stavros Pilios scored for AEK, but his goal only cut the deficit to 2–1 — it was neither an equalizer nor a go-ahead goal.

The scoring sequence

The UEFA Matchday 3 round-up establishes the order, although it is not a full match sheet listing the minute of every goal:

1. Elliot Anderson opened the scoring for Manchester City, tapping in the rebound after Enzo Fernández’s free kick hit the crossbar.

2. Phil Foden scored the second following a one-two with Rico Lewis, giving City a 2–0 halftime lead.

3. Stavros Pilios scored for AEK to make it 2–1.

4. Rayan Cherki restored the two-goal advantage with a turn and finish.

5. Foden struck again to extend the score to 4–1.

6. Foden completed his hat trick and the 5–1 final score.

Pilios’ goal was therefore a limited response within the match: it reduced a two-goal deficit, but AEK remained behind. City then scored three more times.

Phil Foden’s hat trick

Foden was the only player to score three goals in the game and was named UEFA’s Player of the Match. His first goal gave City a two-goal cushion before halftime; the other two came after the goals by Pilios and Cherki.

That distribution helps explain his importance to the size of the win. Foden helped establish the 2–0 lead and later turned a 3–1 advantage into a rout. UEFA’s account also notes that City hit the woodwork again through an Allan Elias effort, although that attempt did not change the score.

The response to the PSG defeat

The win came immediately after City’s 4–2 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on October 14. UEFA’s team-by-team results page shows the club’s opening sequence: a 2–0 victory over Porto, the defeat to PSG and the 5–1 win against AEK.

For AEK, this was a second straight loss following a 3–1 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk. The Greek club had opened its campaign by beating LASK 1–0. After three matches, UEFA’s round-up listed AEK on three points, three behind Manchester City.

What the 5–1 score does and does not show

The result confirms a commanding City win and an immediate response to the previous setback. It also identifies Foden as the game’s central performer. It does not, however, make City champion, guarantee qualification or establish the club as the leader: the league phase consists of eight matchdays and had only reached its third round.

UEFA’s full fixtures and results list places the match in a round that also included PSG’s 4–2 win over Barcelona and Liverpool’s 4–3 victory against Villarreal. The 5–1 score is a significant result within an unfinished campaign, not a guarantee of its outcome.

The next league-phase matches

According to UEFA’s team schedule, Manchester City will face Leipzig on November 4, while AEK will host Real Madrid on the same date. Schedules and conditions are subject to change, so check the official links before following the next games.

Discover Becoartes

To learn more about Becoartes, visit Rua Gonçalo Afonso, 99, Vila Madalena, São Paulo, or see the official website.