Phil Foden looked back to his best as he marked just his second start of the season with a goal and an assist as Man City ran out 4-0 winners at Slovan Bratislava.
The England midfielder made it 2-0 inside 15 minutes with a typically composed finish as City romped to their biggest win of the season, earning their first three points in the revamped Champions League group stage in the process.
Foden has had to be patient in his return to club football after Euro 2024 with a virus slowing his preparations for the season, but looked back in form in the Slovakian capital, with a delicate dink also setting up James McAtee for his side’s fourth.
Ilkay Gundogan had put the visitors ahead even before Foden’s early strike when his deflected effort wrong-footed Dominik Takac, while Erling Haaland scored his own customary goal after half-time after latching onto a ball in behind.
That took the Norwegian to 42 Champions League goals at the age of just 24, and moved him one behind Alessandro Del Piero and Neymar in the competition’s all-time rankings.
Foden: Nice to be back after slow season start
Man City midfielder Phil Foden to TNT Sports:
“I had more chances to score, on another night it could’ve been more – but we’re delighted to win 4-0. It’s been a slow start to the season for me, so it was nice to get back out there and score.
“I’m feeling okay now, I’m back at it. It was that slow start to the season but I’m getting back into it now.”