Foden hits hat-trick in five-star City victory

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Enzo Maresca's side produced the perfect response to its 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain last time out, with Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki also scoring. 

The host's early dominance was rewarded in the 12th minute when Enzo Fernandez's free-kick beat Alberto Brignoli but cannoned against the crossbar, with Anderson the quickest to react to the loose ball and turn it into the net. 

City hit the woodwork again soon after when Allan thundered against the frame of the goal from a tight angle, but the Premier League leaders did double their tally through Foden. 

Fernandez spread the play out wide for Foden, who played a neat one-two with Rico Lewis before firing into the roof of Brignoli's net, scoring in successive appearances for the Citizens, having gone 35 outings without a goal beforehand. 

Cherki almost rounded off a wonderful team move, but he was met with a strong stop by the AEK goalkeeper at his near post before the break, and the visitors reduced the deficit seven minutes after the restart when Stavros Pilios picked out the bottom-right corner. 

But AEK's hopes of a comeback were dashed in the space of seven minutes. First, Cherki collected Foden's pass on the edge of the box, sending Kervin Arriaga onto his backside before curling a left-footed shot beyond the grasp of Brignoli. 

Foden then scored his second and City's fourth in the 65th minute when Cherki's searching ball over the top of the AEK defence was brilliantly cushioned by Lewis and into the path of Foden, who arrowed first time into the top-left corner. 

The win was sealed 14 minutes from time as Foden completed his hat-trick. The Englishman was in the right place at the right time to tuck home Ryan McAidoo's cross and seal an emphatic victory.