With the conclusion of the quarterfinals of both the Champions and Europa leagues, we now have our semifinals set for both competitions. On April 22nd and 23rd it will be Atletico Madrid v. Chelsea, and Real Madrid v. Bayern Munich, respectively. And on April 24th we’ll have Benfica v. Juventus, and Sevilla v. Valencia. What a week that will be. But first we look back on how we arrived at these matchups. Atleti stunned Barcelona at a raucous Calderon, and Chelsea erased their 3-1 deficit to PSG. Madrid held off a feisty Dortmund side in Germany, and Bayern got past an early United scare to see off the visitors. Benfica were never really in doubt of their progression, and the same can pretty much goes for Juventus Sevilla and Valencia on the other hand defied the odds in victory, and will now look to continue their magical European campaigns.
Turning our attention to domestic matters, it was the biggest league clash in 24 years at Anfield on Sunday, and the match didn’t disappoint. Liverpool saw off a determined second-half performance from Manchester City to capture the 3-2 victory, and go seven points clear of their opponents at the top of the table. In Spain, Barcelona fell to a shock 1-0 defeat, as Ateltico and Real remain one-two in the race for the Liga crown. From Hulk’s rocket in Russia to Niall McGinn’s looping drive, get caught up with the Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
16. Fernando Llorente's Sweet Turn, and Even Better Finish
Date: 4/7/2014
Match: Juventus v. Livorno
Competition: Serie A
Ground: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
Fernando Llorente has disappeared at times for the Old Lady this season, but he stepped into the spotlight with this terrific goal against Livorno on Monday. He collects the ball with his back to goal, calmly turns his defender to create the space, and finishes with a rocket into the top of the net.
15. Jeremy Brockie Needs No Second Invitation
Date: 4/12/2014
Match: Wellington Phoenix v. Melbourne Victory
Competition: Australian A-League
Ground: Westpac Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
Jeremy Brockie finds himself completely unmarked on this Phoenix corner, and makes no mistake with his first-time rocket. This would be little more than a consolation though, as Melbourne ended up 4-1 winners on the day.
14. Angel Di Maria Bends One Into the Far Corner
Date: 4/12/2014
Match: Real Madrid v. Almeria
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Real Madrid kept their title charge alive with a 4-0 thrashing of Almeria at the Bernabeu on Saturday. This neat cut into the box, and subsequent curling effort from Angel Di Maria got the party started nearly 30 minutes in, and Los Blancos would never look back.
13. Simon Tibbling's Precision Pass
Date: 4/11/2014
Match: Mjallby AIF v. Djurgardens IF
Competition: Swedish Allsvenskan
Ground: Strandvallen, Hallevik, Sweden
Assist porn alert. SFW! Check out the 19-year-old Swede with one of the assists of the season in Europe. He times his set up perfectly, and puts the ball on a silver platter for his teammate using the outside of his boot. Be honest, you're going a little gaga over this one.
12. Niall McGinn Thumps One in on the Volley
Date: 4/7/2014
Match: Hibernian v. Aberdeen
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Ground: Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland
It was the Niall McGinn show on Monday at Easter Road, as you'll see later on, and this wonderfully executed shot on the half-volley got the party started early in the first 45.
11. Marco Motta Pulls One Back For Genoa
Date: 4/7/2014
Match: Genoa v. AC Milan
Competition: Serie A
Ground: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy
Milan almost saw another match get away from them on Monday, thanks to this sensational finish on the volley from Marco Motta. The Italian gets perfect balance on his plant leg, and unleashes an unstoppable drive past Abbiati into the top corner with his right foot. Milan would hang on for the 2-1 away win, though.
10. Paco Alcacer Complete's the Turnaround
Date: 4/10/2014
Match: Valencia v. Basel
Competition: Europa League quarterfinals, second leg
Ground: Mestalla, Valencia, Spain
Valencia pulled off the shock of the Europa League quarterfinal round as they erased a 3-0 deficit from their first leg in Basel. This wonderful finish from Paco Alcacer knotted the score at 3-3, and propelled Valencia to their eventual 5-3 victory in extra time. The Mestalla was rocking on Thursday night.
9. Andrea Pirlo Doing What He Does Best
Date: 4/10/2014
Match: Juventus v. Lyon
Competition: Europa League quarterfinals, second leg
Ground: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
How many times have we seen Andrea Pirlo do this? Like a painter with a brush, Pirlo shows his quality with one swift masterstroke against Lyon. This goal was equally as important as it was spectacular, seeing as how it put Juve up 2-0 on aggregate at the time. The keeper doesn't even move, and why should he, really?
8. Jefferson Farfan Leaves the Keeper With No Chance
Date: 4/11/2014
Match: Schalke 04 v. Eintracht Frankfurt
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Farfan gets his measurements absolutely spot on with this free kick. Check out the perfect rise over the wall, and subsequent dip into the bottom corner, which leaves the Eintracht keeper rooted to his spot. This sealed all three points for the minors in the 92nd.
7. Hulk's 35-Yard Piledriver
Date: 4/12/2014
Match: Zenit St. Petersburg v. Krasnodar
Competition: Russian Premier League
Ground: Petrovsky Stadium, St Petersburg, Russia
Hulk was at it again on Saturday. Watch the Brazilian blast this one from straight on, purely overpowering the keeper with his strike. Hulk smash.
6. Clint Dempsey Equalizes From 30 Yards Out
Date: 4/12/2014
Match: FC Dallas v. Seattle Sounders
Competition: MLS
Ground: FC Dallas Stadium, Frisco, Texas
They say it's a game of inches, and in this case they couldn't be more right. Watch as Clint Dempsey strikes this dead ball to perfection, and barely sees his effort go over the line. It would've been a shame had this not been ruled a goal.
5. Patrice Evra Gives United Hope
Date: 4/8/2014
Match: Bayern Munich v. Manchester United
Competition: Champions League quarterfinals, second leg
Ground: Allianz Arena, Munich
United came into their second leg match in Munich well aware of the threat their hosts posed, but when Patrice Evra put the visitors on the board first with this missile, surely they must've believed they could achieve the improbable. Well, the away supporters were pegged back about 30 seconds later when Mandzukic equalized and Bayern began their ascent towards victory.
4. Ricardo Quaresma's Wonderful Consolation in Seville
Date: 4/10/2014
Match: Sevilla v. Porto
Competition: Europa League quarterfinals, second leg
Ground: Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain
It was Sevilla's night in the second leg of their quarterfinal match against Porto, as the Liga side knocked out the Dragons by am aggregate score of 4-2. This thumper from Ricardo Quaresma, who scored quite a few peaches in the tournament, was little more than a consolation, but what a consolation it was.
3. Dries Mertens' Wondergoal Pulls Napoli Level
Date: 4/13/2014
Match: Napoli v. Lazio
Competition: Serie A
Ground: Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy
Napoli and Lazio treated spectators to a six-goal thriller on Sunday, and this goal from Mertens is surely the pick of the bunch. As soon as the Belgian lets fly there's only one place this ball is ending up. What a drive from the former PSV man. Napoli won the match 4-2 by the way, in case you were wondering.
2. Niall McGinn Bends it in From Range
Date: 4/7/2014
Match: Hibernian v. Aberdeen
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Ground: Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland
It was Niall McGinn's night at Hibernian on Monday, as he scored two sensational goals to move Aberdeen second in the table. This, his second of the match, is a fantastic looping drive with his left foot.
1. Daniel Brosinski Goes Top Corner With the Outside of the Boot
Date: 4/12/2014
Match: Greuther Furth v. Erzgebirge Aue
Competition: 2. Bundesliga
Ground: Trolli Arena, Furth, Germany
Our top goal this week comes courtesy of the second division in Germany. Check out Daniel Brosinski as he not only bends one perfectly into the top corner, but does so with the outside of his boot. Bravo, young man, bravo.
