Foden hat-trick powers City past AEK Athens as 20,000 empty Etihad seats steal the headlines

Phil Foden scored a hat-trick as Manchester City swept aside AEK Athens 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, but the evening’s dominant talking point was the sight of roughly 20,000 empty seats in a ground that now holds 61,038. The official attendance of 40,024 left large sections of the upper tier visibly unsold.

Foden’s treble was complemented by goals from Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki as City made comfortable work of the Greek visitors, returning to winning ways in Europe after a recent home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The match was their third at the Etihad in seven days, a congested run that likely dampened demand, as did the relatively low-profile nature of the opposition.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, asked about the sparse crowd after the final whistle, was relaxed about the figures. “I think the ones in the stadium were good,” he told reporters. “The last game against Ipswich they were top and next week two games against Brighton and I’ve no doubt the environment will be good again.”

City’s relationship with UEFA’s club competitions has long been complicated. Their supporters have been known to boo the Champions League anthem, a tradition that predates the club’s recent dominance — they lifted the trophy in 2023 as part of a historic treble. AEK Athens, meanwhile, were never likely to generate the kind of demand that a heavyweight European tie might.

Off the pitch, City are navigating the fallout from an independent panel’s guilty verdict relating to alleged financial rule breaches spanning 2009 to 2018. The club have lodged an appeal, but the threat of a significant points deduction and potential relegation remains. Supporters have responded defiantly, reviving the inflatable banana tradition that dates back to the club’s relegation battles of the 1980s.

In the Premier League, City remain the team to beat. Seven wins from seven games have them three points clear of Arsenal at the summit. Their next significant test comes at Aston Villa, a ground where they have lost each of their last three visits.