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Foden Hat-Trick Lifts Man City Past AEK 5-1

By Drooid · Oct 21, 2026, 2:27 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5-1 in the Champions League.
Phil Foden scored a hat-trick, his first Champions League goals in nearly a year.
Enzo Maresca made eight changes, benching Erling Haaland and starting Floyd Samba.
Attendance was 40,042, well below the 61,000 capacity as fans stayed away.

History

Historical Context

The 26 May 1999 Champions League final at Barcelona’s Camp Nou saw Manchester United overturn Bayern Munich in injury time, securing a historic treble before roughly 92 000 spectators. That dramatic comeback set a benchmark for elite clubs’ commercial appeal. Today, Manchester City’s 5-1 win over AEK Athens reflects the same emphasis on squad rotation and revenue, echoing United’s 1999 triumph.

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Story summary

Manchester City beat AEK Athens 5-1 in the Champions League.
Phil Foden scored a hat-trick, his first Champions League goals in nearly a year.
Enzo Maresca made eight changes, benching Erling Haaland and starting Floyd Samba.
Attendance was 40,042, well below the 61,000 capacity as fans stayed away.

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