Phil Foden scored three goals and created a fourth as Man City beat AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, a result that lifts them to sixth in the Champions League league-phase table.
City were two goals up at half-time and, after AEK pulled one back, scored three more in the space of 19 minutes.
How the goals came
Elliot Anderson opened the scoring on 12 minutes. Foden added the second on 34, set up by Rico Lewis.
AEK got back into the game on 52 minutes. Stavro Pilo scored, with Zini providing the assist, to make it 2-1.
The response was quick. Rayan Cherki made it 3-1 on 57 minutes from a Foden assist. Josko Gvardiol was booked two minutes later, but it did not disturb City's rhythm.
Foden struck again on 65 minutes, with Lewis again the provider. His third arrived on 76, this time assisted by Ryan McAidoo, to complete the hat-trick and make it 5-1.
What the numbers say
City had 64% of possession to AEK's 36% and led the shot count 17 to 11. The gap in accuracy was bigger. City put seven shots on target, with four off target and six blocked. AEK managed three on target, with five off target and three blocked.
City also won eight corners to AEK's three. AEK committed 10 fouls to City's six.
Pilo's goal was one of only three AEK efforts on target. City scored with five of their seven.
- Goals per game: City now average 3, AEK 1.
- Conceded per game: City 1.67, AEK 2.67.
- Points per game: City 2, AEK 1.
- Clean sheets: one each so far.
Before kick-off City had won 2-0 at Porto and lost 4-2 at home to PSG. AEK had beaten LASK 1-0 and lost 3-1 at Shakhtar Donetsk.
What it means in the table
City have played three, won two and have six points with a goal difference of plus four. That puts them sixth, inside the top eight who go straight through to the last 16. Liverpool lead the table on nine points from three wins, with a goal difference of plus five.
AEK are 26th with three points from three games. They have a goal difference of minus five, which leaves them outside the top 24 who qualify for the knockout play-offs or better. Only Slovan Bratislava, bottom in 36th with no points and a goal difference of minus 12, have a worse record on that count.
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