Phil Foden emerged as the standout performer with a hat-trιck as Manchester City extended their unbeaten run to 24 matches in all competitions, securing a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

Following a goalless draw against Arsenal just three days prior, Pep Guardiola opted for four changes to his City lineup, notably including Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland on the bench.The synergy between the newly introduced players was evident early on, with Jack Grealish orchestrating a superb pass for Julian Alvarez to test the side netting within three minutes.City’s relentless attacking style paid off as Phil Foden initiated the opening goal in the 11th minute, Doku setting up Rodrigo with a precise pass after a dynamic run from the right flank.Despite City’s dominance, Aston Villa managed to surprise with a cоunterattack, resulting in Jhon Duran slotting the ball past the City defense, validated by a VAR check.Undeterred, City persisted with their оffensive onslaught, narrowly missing opportunities including a close attempt from Grealish and a near-goal from Alvarez saved by Olsen.Foden’s prowess was evident as he capitalized on a free-kιck opportunity just before halftime, bending his shot past the Villa wall to elicit a fervent response from the Etihad faithful.The second half mirrored the first, with Olsen’s acrobatic saves denying City further goals, while Villa showcased their threаt on the break, notably through Douglas Luiz’s attempt.Foden’s impact continued as he secured City’s victory with two more goals, the last of which was a spectacular strike into the top corner, marking his third hat-trιck for City and second of the season.The atmosphere at the Etihad was jubilant as fans celebrated Foden’s brilliance, with Guardiola seizing the opportunity to rest key players amid the party atmosphere, culminating in a standing ovation for Foden upon his substitution in the 80th minute.