A smiling Foden gliding across the turf at full throttle is a joy to watch for City fans and he sent them home happy after a performance in which he had a hand in four of the five goals.
Boss Maresca took a risk by making eight changes from the side that beat Ipswich in their last outing, with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ruben Dias and Foden the retained players.
Striker Erling Haaland was named in the squad but was ultimately placed on leave after suffering a knock on his foot in the previous match, giving Maresca the opportunity to explore his suggestion that Foden could offer a “solution” in the false nine role.
After starting on the right, he moved into that position later in the game and it paid off, with Foden saying he “really enjoyed” the role.
Although City had a brief scare early in the second half when the visitors scored a goal to go 2-1 up, they found another gear and were out of sight by the final whistle.
And at that point, Foden had become only the third Englishman to score a hat-trick and provide an assist in a Champions League match after Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2004 and his former teammate Raheem Sterling for City in 2019.
While the first and third goals were converted from close range, the second was a superb finish from just inside the area, with Foden opening his body and caressing a first-time effort into the top corner.
“Magnificent is the word I would use to describe him,” former City defender Joleon Lescott said of Foden on TNT Sports. “His finishing was exquisite.
“I think he has convinced the manager that if Erling Haaland is not available for whatever reason throughout the season, then he is the man to play at number nine.”
Gn sports
