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

From Olivier Giroud's sublime touch to Charlie Adam's left-footed rocket.

Image via 1815.ch

We know that most fans only had one kind of football on their minds going into this weekend, but not to worry, we’ve got you covered. There was plenty of midweek action on display, from the domestic top-flights to the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals in Spain. The English Premier League gave a us a double-dip with a full round of fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as the regular weekend schedule. We saw derby delight for some, which produced a few of this week’s top picks, and heartache for others. We were witness to one of the assists of the season in Europe, and it didn’t even come from a top-flight division. Which just goes to show that quality is everywhere if you look hard enough. We know you had your fill of pigskin yesterday, so shift gears and check out everything you missed from your other favorite sport. From Adil Rami salvaging a point in Milan to Charlie Adam heaping more misery on David Moyes and Manchester United, check out February’s first edition of, GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.

Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)

14. BVB's Fine Team Effort

Date: 1/31/2014
Match: Eintracht Braunschweig v. Borussia Dortmund
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Eintracht-Stadion, Braunschweig, Germany

This is some brilliant one-touch passing from Dortmund. BVB's midfield strokes the ball around before breaking down the Braunschweig defense, and finding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to nod in and finish off the move. Fourteen points back of leaders Bayern, Dortmund probably aren't going to challenge for the Bundesliga crown this season. Still, it's nice to see Jurgen Klopp's men playing an attractive style of football that we've come to associate with the black and yellow.

13. Xabi Alonso's Long-Range Assist

Date: 1/28/2014
Match: Real Madrid v. Espanyol
Competiton: Copa del Rey
Ground: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Peep the vintage long-range pick out from Xabi Alonso for this Real Madrid goal. It's these types of passes that attracted the former Liverpool man to Los Blancos back in 2009. Fair play to Jesse as well, who collects calmly and fires past the Espanyol keeper.

12. Olivier Giroud's Touch of Class

Date: 1/28/2014
Match: Southampton v. Arsenal
Competiton: English Premier League
Ground: St Mary's, Southampton, England

Who says that a golazo has to be a thirty-yard cracker? Check out the deft touch and turn from the Arsenal striker as he guides this one into the back of the net. This really is a pretty little move from the Frenchman.

11. Ashley Young Shows His Quality

Date: 1/28/2014
Match: Manchester United v. Cardiff
Competiton: English Premier League
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England

When he's not getting booked for diving, this is exactly the type of class that Ashley Young is capable of producing. You just can't give him that much time and space on his favorite right foot, or else this happens. What a sizzler.

10. Adil Rami Salvages a Point

Date: 2/1/2014
Match: AC Milan v. Torino
Competiton: Serie A
Ground: San Siro, Milan

This Adil Rami strike was only enough to salvage a point for the home side in their clash with Torino, and it's a real shame because this one is worthy of a winner. This thunderbolt from the Frenchman only has eyes for the top corner, and no one was getting in the way of that. What a cracker.

9. Andy Reid's Outside of the Boot Pass

Date: 1/30/2014
Match: Nottingham Forest v. Watford
Competiton: Sky Bet Championship
Ground: The City Ground, Nottingham, England

How about this for an assist of the week nominee? Andy Reid displays super skill as he picks out his man at the back post and bends in a beautiful cross with the outside of his boot. This pass only needs to be obliged by the slightest of touches to find the back of the net, and lucky for Reid and Forest, it gets it.

8. Jay Rodriguez Finishes Fulham

Date: 2/1/2014
Match: Fulham v. Southampton
Competiton: English Premier League
Ground: Craven Cottage, London

This is a sensational pick out from Rickie Lambert to find his teammate up the pitch, but Jay Rodriguez still has plenty to do. Watch as the number nine collects and prods into the box, waiting for the defender to show just enough, and stabs this one into the top corner. Game. Set. Match.

7. Daniel Sturridge's Precision Lob

Date: 1/28/2014
Match: Liverpool v. Everton
Competiton: English Premier League
Ground: Anfield, Liverpool, England

It was a Merseyside derby to remember for one Daniel Sturridge. This audacious lob over an on-rushing Tim Howard was the in-form stiker's second on the day and surely the pick of the match. Just appreciate how Sturridge is completely turned the wrong way when the ball comes in, but adjusts himself, and measures the goal perfectly. 4-0 on the day for the Reds.

6. Adriano Fires Barca Into the Semis

Date: 1/29/2014
Match: Barcelona v. Levante
Competiton: Copa del Rey
Ground: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

If you feel like it's the millionth time Barcelona have played Levante in the past few weeks, well, you're not far from the truth. Between La Liga and Cope del Rey fixtures, the two have grown quite accustomed to one another. We're sure there was no love lost though, when Adriano scored this beauty. Perfect execution, perfect placement.

5. Fabian Delph Collects and Fires

Date: 1/29/2014
Match: Aston Villa v. West Bromwich Albion
Competiton: English Premier League
Ground: Villa Park, Birmingham, England

What a move from Fabian Delph. First, let's take a moment to appreciate the touch from the Englishman, then, well, you see the thunderbolt. This would be a crucial strike in a seven-goal thriller that saw Villa narrowly edge their local rivals. An important three points for the mid-table club, as well.

4. Kevin Mirallas Goes Top Shelf

Date: 2/1/2014
Match: Everton v. Aston Villa
Competiton: English Premier League
Ground: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England

Kevin Mirallas has been in fine form for the Toffees since the start of the campaign. He's been at the central of Everton's open play attack, and he's often been the main man from free kick opportunities. See above. This inch-perfect take against Villa completed the 2-1 comeback, sealed all three points, and kept Everton within touching distance of the top four.

3. Thiago Alcantara's Acrobatic Winner

Date: 1/29/2014
Match: VFB Stuttgart v. Bayern Munich
Competiton: Bundesliga
Ground: Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart, Germany

Thiago Alcantara's last-minute winner during the week ensured the Munich faithful would be traveling back to Bavaria with all three points in tow. Check out the acrobatic finish from the former Barcelona man, who leaves the keeper with absolutely no chance.

2. Charlie Adam's Piledriver

Date: 2/1/2014
Match: Stoke v. Manchester United
Competiton: English Premier League
Ground: Britania Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, England

Charlie Adam must've been a very good boy last year, because he's kicked off 2014 with a flying start. Just stop and marvel at this thunderbolt from the former Liverpool and Blackpool man. The Scot goes top corner and leaves De Gea with absolutely no chance to make a save. 2-1 Stoke, and United's league trouble continues.

1. Chris Brunt's Left-Footed Blast

Date: 1/29/2014
Match: Aston Villa v. West Bromwich Albion
Competiton: English Premier League
Ground: Villa Park, Birmingham, England

Baggies captain Chris Brunt isn't known for his goal-scoring prowess, but the Irishman had no qualms about having an early crack in the Midlands derby. With less than four minutes gone on the clock he teed off with his left foot and scored an absolute bomb. Villa would have the last laugh though, as they edged their rivals 4-3.

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