---
title: "Man City news: Foden resurgence, Etihad attendance and Champions League latest"
canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2026/10/21/man-city-news-foden-etihad-attendance-champions-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Man City News"
published: "2026-10-21T18:00:00Z"
modified: "2026-10-21T18:00:00Z"
---

# Man City news: Foden resurgence, Etihad attendance and Champions League latest

**Phil Foden’s remarkable return to scoring form, the attendance for Manchester City’s victory over AEK Athens and the latest Champions League picture are among Wednesday’s main talking points.**

[City](https://readmancity.com/) are reflecting on an emphatic European victory after beating AEK 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

Here are the main City stories from Wednesday, October 21.

## Foden follows drought with four goals in two games

Foden’s hat-trick against AEK continued a remarkable change in fortunes after the England international had previously gone 35 City appearances without scoring.

He ended that drought against Ipswich Town on Saturday before scoring three times and creating another against AEK.

The treble was Foden’s fourth hat-trick for City and took him to 23 Champions League goals, level with Frank Lampard among English goalscorers in the competition.

[Read the full story: Foden ends 35-game Man City drought with four goals in two matches](https://readmancity.com/2026/10/21/phil-foden-man-city-35-game-drought-four-goals/)

## Etihad attendance questioned

City confirmed an attendance of 40,042 for the victory over AEK, leaving more than 20,000 seats unoccupied at the expanded Etihad Stadium.

Large areas of empty seating were visible during the game, although Enzo Maresca focused on the backing provided by those supporters who attended when he was asked about the atmosphere afterwards.

[Read the full story: Man City attendance questioned after more than 20,000 empty seats for AEK Athens win](https://readmancity.com/2026/10/21/man-city-attendance-empty-seats-aek-athens-etihad/)

## Foden perfect in City ratings

Foden earned a 10/10 in our player ratings following his three goals and an assist against AEK.

Rayan Cherki was another standout performer, while Rico Lewis created two of Foden’s goals and Elliot Anderson opened the scoring with his first goal for City.

[Read the full story: Man City player ratings v AEK Athens: Foden perfect as Cherki and Lewis impress](https://readmancity.com/2026/10/21/man-city-player-ratings-aek-athens-phil-foden/)

## City hit five against AEK

Maresca made eight changes for Tuesday’s Champions League game but City still produced a convincing performance.

Anderson opened the scoring before Foden’s hat-trick and Cherki’s goal completed a 5-1 victory. Erling Haaland remained an unused substitute after his recent fitness concern, while 17-year-old Floyd Samba was handed a start.

[Read the full match report: Man City 5-1 AEK Athens – Foden hat-trick inspires emphatic Champions League win](https://readmancity.com/2026/10/21/man-city-5-1-aek-athens-match-report-phil-foden-hat-trick/)

## Champions League tracker updated

City now have six points from their opening three league-phase fixtures after victories over Porto and AEK and defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.

Haaland remains City’s leading scorer in the competition with four goals, with Foden moving to three after Tuesday’s hat-trick.

City’s next Champions League game is away to RB Leipzig on November 4, with Napoli, Barcelona, Lens and Sporting CP still to come.

[See the updated tracker: Man City Champions League fixtures, results and player stats 2026/27](https://readmancity.com/2026/10/21/man-city-champions-league-fixtures-results-player-stats-2026-27/)

**For all the latest Manchester City news, injury updates and team news, visit our** [**Man City news page**](https://readmancity.com/news/)**.**