GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week

Tiki-Taka displays and golazos of the highest order.

Image via sepakbola.com

We know why you’re smiling this weekend, and we’re smiling, too. The Champions League finally returned this week with the first wave of Round of 16 matches, and From Bayern domineeringly defending their title in London to PSG all but killing off Leverkusen in Germany, the action did not disappoint. The Europa League also featured with Round of 32 play providing some shocking results, and some stunning goals. Not to worry, though, we’ve got you covered with all the best action from the top domestic leagues as well. Wild finishes in the EPL, a shocking result in Spain, and a whole lot of goals and goodies from around the globe.

With the knockout stages going down in Europe and domestic league pictures becoming increasingly clearer, we’re well in the thick of it now. Winter’s hold is almost letting go, we hope, and the spring is on course to provide some enticing story lines. From Toni Kroos giving Arsenal a dose of déjà vu at the Emirates to Gareth Bale doing what he does best, buckle up and check out the Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.

Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)

20. Philipp Lahm's Delicate Touch

Date: 2/19/2014
Match: Arsenal v. Bayern Munich
Competition: Champions League Round of 16, First Leg
Ground: Emirates, London

Philipp Lahm puts this ball on a silver platter for Thomas Muller to head home, and the German international obliges with the finish. The weight and height of the pass is inch perfect from the Bayern and Germany captain. This second goal in the match was absolutely vital, as Bayern now take two away goals back to Munich for the second leg of the tie.

19. Yohan Cabaye Goes For Placement Over Power

Date: 2/18/2014
Match: Bayer Leverkusen v. Paris Saint-Germain
Competition: Champions League Round of 16, First Leg
Ground: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany

Some nice build up from the Parisians sees Yohan Cabaye with all the time and space in the world to take this shot. Still, the Frenchman has to measure this one perfectly, and he does just that. PSG look all but certain of a spot in the final eight of this season's Champions League after their drubbing of Leverkusen in Germany.

18. Didac Vila Shows a Striker's Touch

Date: 2/20/2014
Match: Real Betis v. Rubin Kazan
Competition: Europa League Round of 32, First leg
Ground: Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain

It looks like nobody told Didac Vila that defenders aren't supposed to have this kind of touch in the opponent's box. Check out the fantastic touch displayed by the AC Milan loanee, who works over the defenders to find the space, and then finds the back of the net. A 1-1 draw has the tie firmly in the balance for the second leg.

17. Barcelona's Cheeky Tiki-Taka Display

Date: 2/22/2014
Match: Real Sociedad v. Barcelona
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Anoeta, San Sebastian, Spain

Oh, yes. This is football porn of the highest quality, kids. Check out the delicious interplay by the best in the business, as the Catalans cut open the Sociedad defense before Messi fires home. The build up and resulting goal was certainly the individual highlight on the day, but it wasn't enough for Barcelona. The defending Liga champions lost ground on Madrid as they fell to a shock 3-1 defeat.

16. Ricardo Kishna's Incredible Angled Finish

Date: 2/23/2014
Match: Ajax v. AZ Alkmaar
Competition: Dutch Eredivisie
Ground: Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam

The youngster hailed as the "Dutch di Maria," Ricardo Kishna scored a goal for Ajax on Sunday that would make the Argentine take notice. The angle at which he scores this goal just does not look on, but he makes it happen. An absolutely superb finish from the 19-year-old, who is undoubtedly being watched by some of Europe's bigger clubs. Check out the keeper crawling around on all fours after, too. Gotcha, fam.

15. Toni Kroos Sinks the Gunners

Date: 2/19/2014
Match: Arsenal v. Bayern Munich
Competition: Champions League Round of 16, First Leg
Ground: Emirates, London

Déjà vu? Toni Kroos scored an eerily similar goal for Bayern in a previous visit to the Emirates in the Champions League. This time around Kroos' perfectly placed finish got Bayern on the board against 10-men Arsenal, and a second goal minutes later has the Gunners in a world of trouble ahead of the return leg in Munich.

14. Emanuele Giaccherini Bags One For the Black Cats

Date: 2/22/2014
Match: Arsenal v. Sunderland
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Emirates, London

Sunderland could do little to stunt Arsenal's title claims on Saturday, but this wonderful hit from Emanuele Giaccherini deserves a moment of mention and praise. The Italian international gets his whole body behind the strike, and does ever so well to find the side netting passed a stretching Szczesny.

13. Jordan Henderson Leaves Vorm With no Chance

Date: 2/23/2014
Match: Liverpool v. Swansea
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England

The only part of Jordan Henderson's game this season that has taken some flack is his goal scoring ability, or rather lack there of. Well, Henderson quieted a few of those voices with this fantastic finish. The England international finds himself in space just outside of the area, has a look up to pick his spot, and executes to perfection. Vorm is rooted to his spot, though there seems to be little he could've done to keep this effort out.

12. Mehmet Guven Catches the Half Volley Perfectly

Date: 2/17/2014
Match: Elazigspor v. Konyaspor
Competition: Turkish Super Lig
Ground: Konya Atatürk Stadium, Konya, Turkey

Guven shows a sublime bit of skill to time this strike to perfection. The power of the shot, combined with the height at which he catches the ball, leaves the keeper with virtually no chance of making a save.

11. Roman Bezjak Shocks Lazio at the Olimpico

Date: 2/20/2014
Match: Lazio v. Ludogorets
Competition: Europa League Round of 32, First leg
Ground: Stadio Olimpico, Rome

It was Roman's night in Rome this week, as he sealed a victory for Ludogorets with this sensational strike. The Bulgarian side already surpassed expectations by making it out of the group stage, and now they're just 90 minutes away from pulling off one of the shocks of the round.

10. Dioko Kaluyituka's First Time Rocket

Date: 2/20/2014
Match: Al Rayyan v. Al Ahli
Competition: Qatar Stars League
Ground: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan, Qatar

This is an absolute cracker from the Congo international. He gets ridiculous power on his first time effort, and this shot only has eyes for the roof of the net.

9. Bend it Like Patrick Bamford

Date: 2/18/2014
Match: Sheffield Wednesday v. Derby County
Competition: Football League Championship
Ground: Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield, England

Patrick Bamford is clearly doing his bit to help Derby gain Premier League promotion. Check out the bend the young Chelsea loanee gets on this finish.

8. Arsenal Shred the Sunderland Defense

Date: 2/22/2014
Match: Arsenal v. Sunderland
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Emirates, London

Arsenal took a page out of Barcelona's playbook with this wonderfully worked team goal. The Gunners quickly ping it around as they cut open the Sunderland defense with the skill of a surgeon. It's one touch footy before Rosicky applies the finishing touch over the on-rushing keeper.

7. Jonjo Shelvey's Precision Placement

Date: 2/23/2014
Match: Liverpool v. Swansea
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England

Jonjo Shelvey extracted a little personal revenge against his former club by scoring this sublime goal at Anfield on Sunday. What a perfectly steered finish from the Englishman, as he guides this one into the top corner over a diving Simon Mignolet. Round of applause...

6. Rogelio Chavez's Surface-to-Air Missile

Date: 2/21/2014
Match: Queretaro v. Cruz Azul
Competition: Liga MX
Ground: Estadio Corregidora, Queretaro, Mexico

We legit had to watch this goal five times before we realized exactly what happened. There definitely appears to be some suspect play from the keeper in the end, but the technique on this shot is top drawer. Chavez couldn't have known much about where the keeper was, seeing as how he strikes this ball out of the air, but, well, just watch and enjoy.

5. Jonathan Schmid Goes Top Corner

Date: 2/22/2014
Match: Freiburg v. Augsburg
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: MAGE SOLAR Stadion, Freiburg, Germany

Jonathan Schmid, take a bow, son. The Frenchman gets it inch perfect as he curls the free kick up and over the wall, and nestles the ball into the top corner. No chance for the keeper, or any keeper for that matter. Ya, we'd wheel away in celebration like that, too, after scoring a goal of this quality.

4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Left-Footed Lazer

Date: 2/18/2014
Match: Bayer Leverkusen v. Paris Saint-Germain
Competition: Champions League Round of 16, First Leg
Ground: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany

What can we say about Zlatan Ibrahimovic that hasn't already been said? This is an absolute thumper from the PSG talisman, and with his less favored left foot, no less. Is there anything Ibra can't do?

3. Wayne Rooney's Superb Volley

Date: 2/22/2014
Match: Crystal Palace v. Manchester United
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Selhurst Park, London

You know how some athletes sign a huge new contract and then take a big stinker in their next performance? Wayne Rooney is apparently not one of those athletes. Shortly after signing a deal that will keep him with United until June of 2019, the England international went out and did this to Crystal Palace. The technique on this volley is so difficult to execute, but Rooney hits it flawlessly. What a thumper.

2. Gareth Bale's Cracker in the Spanish Capital

Date: 2/22/2014
Match: Real Madrid v. Elche
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

There you go, Madridistas. Gareth Bale is starting to show week in and week out that he's worth every penny of the ginormous fee his transfer commanded. What a sizzler from the Welsh wizard on that magical left boot of his. The Elche defender comes out to close Bale down, but you gotta be quicker than that to stop this man.

1. Jonatan Soriano's Hallfway Line Wonder Strike

Date: 2/20/2014
Match: Ajax v. Red Bull Salzburg
Competition: Europa League Round of 32, First leg
Ground: Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam

Here it is, the goal of the round in the Europa League. Just watch as Jonatan Soriano spy's the keeper of his line, and has a pop from just inside the attacking half. Safe to say this is probably the goal of Soriano's career. This was one of three goals on the night for Salzburg, who absolutely demolished Ajax in front of their home supporters.

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