Phil Foden’s electrifying hat-trick and Elliot Anderson's maiden goal dismantled the Greek champions, signalling a ruthless return to European form for Enzo Maresca’s dominant side at the Etihad Stadium.
A Phil Foden hat-trick ensured Manchester City returned to winning ways off the back of defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League with an imperious victory over Greek champions AEK Athens.
The Athenian outfit came to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night to face a Manchester City side who have won all but one game since missing out on the Community Shield to Arsenal.
Enzo Maresca's side soon took the lead as Enzo Fernandez's well-hit free-kick from the edge of the box struck the crossbar and fell directly to fellow £100 million-plus summer signing Elliot Anderson.
The England international midfielder made no mistake when faced with an open goal and tucked the ball away for his first ever goal for the club. Academy graduates then combined for a second as Rico Lewis and Phil Foden played a one-two, with the latter shooting high into the roof of the net to beat Alberto Brignoli.
Manchester City's clean sheet brought into half-time vanished almost immediately after the break, as Stavros Pilios fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma to earn a lifeline for the visitors.
This though was then ruthlessly snuffed out almost instantly as Rayan Cherki's quick turn of direction sent the Greek defence in one direction, before he dispatched his shot in the other.
The floodgates then opened as Phil Foden helped himself to another with a shot tearing into the top corner of Brignoli's net, assisted once again by Rico Lewis. He then capped off the perfect night with a third, finishing Ryan McAidoo's cross from close range to secure a well-deserved hat-trick.
Here are Five Things We Learned from Manchester City's midweek goal-filled encounter with AEK Athens!
Fantastic Mr Foden
It has been a long time since Phil Foden looked that happy on a football pitch, with each twist, turn, and pass against AEK Athens completed with an electricity that has been missing for so long.
A local lad who supports the club, it's never been a surprise as to why the midfielder is so beloved by the Manchester City faithful. But after some scintillating seasons, Foden's had a few more difficult years along with a challenging start to the ongoing campaign due to a red card against Manchester United and the subsequent three-game ban.
Having returned to the pitch over the weekend against Ipswich Town, the 26-year-old finally broke his Premier League goal duck which dated back to December 2025, carrying that positivity into Tuesday night's clash with AEK Athens, producing a magnificent and lively display rewarded with a hat-trick.
What a pleasure it is to watch Phil Foden at the very height of his powers, and lets hope he can maintain that magic throughout the season as he has in the past.
Back to winning ways
Many saw Tuesday night's game as somewhat of a foregone conclusion for Manchester City, but nothing is ever certain in football. However, Enzo Maresca's side still had to go out and earn three points, doing just that even with AEK Athens proving a worthy opponent.
At times City were cruising, but the reigning Greek champions battled hard and shocked many in the Etihad Stadium when scoring to halve the deficit just after the half-time interval.
The club know all too well about the UEFA Champions League's recent format change, having fallen victim to the frustrating play-off round already, so rode out Tuesday night's challenge well.
Therefore, a return to winning ways after the disappointing defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week was much needed, especially with tough games on the horizon such as a trip to Barcelona.
Every point matters at this stage and Manchester City understood the assignment, notching yet another win already this season.
Rico Lewis: A resurgence?
In a Manchester City side with superstars in abundance, academy graduate Rico Lewis has fought hard to keep his place in the squad over the years. Producing a fantastic debut season in the senior team in 2022/23, winning the Treble in the process, the defender has remained in and around the line-up ever since.
Lewis has certainly had his critics though in recent years and even looked shaky in Manchester City's Premier League opener against Bournemouth back in August. But despite defensive issues from time to time, the Englishman provides reminders of the raw quality which Pep Guardiola saw in him.
Still at the young age of 21-years-old, Rico Lewis can hold his own in a team littered with mega-money signings and he did just that on Tuesday night. Providing two assists for fellow academy graduate Phil Foden, the defender turned from tackler to creator with an inspired performance.
With Lewis it is always important to remember just how youthful he is and how much talent he truly possesses which, with the right nurturing, could still see him come good.
Enzo Maresca's Manchester City machine rolls on!
I feel as if I am writing this with each game that goes by under Enzo Maresca, but what an unbelievable start it has been for him in charge of Manchester City. A turbulent time off the pitch has been blasted away by quality football, goals, and a healthy dose of bananas.
The Italian coach has taken the almost impossible task of succeeding Pep Guardiola in his stride, leading City to 10 wins already before October is even over.
AEK Athens were not the toughest team the players will have faced so far this season but they still represented a hurdle which the Maresca machine dispatched confidently.
It is this bravado and resilience which is so evident to see running through the DNA of this current Manchester City side which has been expertly instilled by the new man in the hot-seat.
There's a long way to go until the finish line on all fronts and with that a lot of uncertainty, but one thing is already for sure, it has been one hell of a start.
A first City goal for Elliot Anderson
There have been few who have had quite the instant impact since arriving at Manchester City as Eliot Anderson. The England international has been one of the most vital players in the side since joining from Nottingham Forest in the summer.
Anderson has slotted straight into the midfield and commanded it alongside fellow arrivals Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi. His composure, pin-point passing and interceptions have majorly cushioned the blow of losing Ballon d'Or winner Rodri after the World Cup.
It was therefore a well-deserved first goal on Tuesday night as Anderson fired home into an empty net following Fernandez's free-kick. A first for the club and also a first in the Champions League, the midfielder deserved that special moment after the momentous impact he's made in the team week in, week out.