Manchester City reignited their Champions League campaign in emphatic style with a dominant 5-1 victory over AEK Athens, spearheaded by a Phil Foden hat-trick.
Elliot Anderson netted his first goal for the club and Rayan Cherki was also on the scoresheet during a largely one-sided encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
The Greek champions mounted a brief resurgence early in the second half to reduce the deficit to 2-1 through Stavros Pilios, though it remained a rare moment of quality from the visitors.
Even with a heavily rotated side, as Enzo Maresca handed opportunities to fringe players, City proved superior in all departments.
Leading scorer Erling Haaland was rested following an injury scare and remained on the bench throughout the match.
Youngster Floyd Samba lined up in place of the Norwegian striker, but the evening ultimately belonged to Foden.
Following two indifferent seasons and a frustrating opening to the current campaign after his sending off in last month’s Manchester derby, the midfielder has returned in style over recent days.
Having scored in Saturday’s win against Ipswich – his first strike since last December – his treble represented his first Champions League goals in nearly 12 months.
Were it not for the serious off-field situation hanging over the club, City’s routine victory might simply have been described as business as usual.
Kervin Arriaga blasted over from an early attack for the visitors, but City quickly established control and took the lead after 12 minutes through Anderson’s first goal for the club.
The England midfielder pounced from close range after Enzo Fernandez had clipped the bar with a free-kick.
Allan revelled in space down the left wing and, after one good run came to nothing, a second saw him cut inside to crack a fierce shot against the goal frame from a tight angle.
City doubled their lead in the 34th minute with a fine goal from Foden, who broke down the right and exchanged passes with fellow academy graduate Rico Lewis before lifting the ball over goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli.
City wanted more and Fernandez went close early in the second half when he tried to pick his spot from distance, only for his effort to be deflected wide.
AEK stunned City by pulling one back after 52 minutes when substitute Zini tore down the left before feeding Pilios on his inside.
Pilios cut into the area and drove a powerful low shot past Donnarumma and into the far corner.
The vociferous visiting supporters cranked the volume up even more, but thoughts of an unlikely fightback were swiftly killed off as City claimed their third.
Foden was again involved, cutting the ball back for Cherki, but the goal was all about the touch and composure of the Frenchman.
Cherki shaped to shoot with his right foot but instead flicked the ball behind him and turned to finish in style with his left.
The fourth came moments later as Cherki picked out Lewis with a sweeping ball from halfway, whose lay-off was calmly stroked into the roof of the net by Foden.
He completed his hat-trick 14 minutes from time when he arrived in the box to tuck home from Ryan McAidoo’s pass.
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