Champions League: Manchester City thrash AEK Athens 5-0, Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3

London, Oct 20 (KUNA) -- Manchester City thrashed their Greek opponents AEK Athens 5-1 in their match on Tuesday, as part of the third round of the UEFA Champions League. City opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Englishman Elliot Anderson, before his compatriot Phil Foden doubled the lead in the 34th minute. The visitors reduced the deficit seven minutes after the second half began, with Greek defender Stavros Peliouos scoring. However, Frenchman Ryan Scharke responded five minutes later to score the third goal. In the 65th minute, Foden scored his fourth, and then his fifth in the 76th minute, completing his first hat-trick in continental competitions.

Meanwhile, English club Liverpool narrowly defeated Spanish side Villarreal 4-3 in the same round. The Spanish team took the lead with two consecutive goals: Georgian striker Giorgi Mikoutadze scored in the fourth minute, and Spanish defender Sergio Cardona added a second in the 29th minute. After sustained pressure, Liverpool managed to score their first goal in the 36th minute through Argentine midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. His Uruguayan teammate Ronald Arroyo added the second goal in the second minute of stoppage time. In the 65th minute, Mac Allister reached the opponent's net again, scoring Liverpool's third goal, followed four minutes later by the fourth goal from his German teammate Florian Wirtz. Before the end of regular time, Canadian striker Tanilolu Oluwaseyi scored Villarreal's third goal.

With these results, Liverpool sits third in the standings with nine points, while Manchester City is sixth, one goal ahead of Villarreal in 19th place with three points, and AEK Athens is 27th on goal difference. (End) M.R.N./R.J.