Image via Complex Original
With the international break over, players and supporters alike turned their attention back to club priorities. European competition took center stage midweek, with the first wave of second legs of the Round of 16 in the Champions League, as well as the first legs of the last 16 in the Europa League. Bayern, Barca, and Atletico were among those to book their tickets to the last eight in the CL, while clubs like Juventus and Fiorentina still have it all to play for in the second leg of their Europa tie. Bayern kept up their winning ways at home in the Bundesliga at the weekend, while Arsenal and Liverpool were the big winners on super Sunday in the Premier League. The days are getting longer, and things are really heating up as the final push for Europe both this season and next have begun. From Diego Costa’s killer touch in Madrid to Tomas Rosicky’s winner in the London derby, check out the Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
15. Claudio Marchisio Shows a Touch of Class
Date: 3/13/2014
Match: Juventus v. Fiorentina
Competition: Europa League, Round of 16
Ground: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
Claudio Marchisio is uncharacteristic with his lose touch at the beginning of this play, but the Italian international responds by regaining control of the ball, putting Borja Valero on a swivel with some fancy footwork, and providing a fine pass to the wing to recycle the Juve attack.
14. David Silva's Sublime Setup for Dzeko
Date: 3/15/2014
Match: Hull v. Manchester City
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: KC Stadium, Hull, England
David Silva already scored the match winner with a beauty earlier, but he sealed all three points for the visitors with this perfectly weighted cutting ball for Edin Dzeko. The Bosnian doesn't even need a touch, he just strokes it into the back of the net.
13. Diego Costa's Applies the Finishing Touch
Date: 3/11/2014
Match: Atletico Madrid v. AC Milan
Competition: Champions League, Round of 16
Ground: Estadio Vicente Calderon, Madrid
Diego Costa just can't stop scoring for high-flying Atletico this season. The Brazilian turned Spaniard got Los Colchoneros off to just the start they were looking for in the second leg of their last 16 clash with Milan, as he latched onto this perfectly teased cross from Koke. Costa displayed fantastic balance and touch to get this one past Abbiati, and put Atleti well on their way to the last eight.
12. Mario Gomez Silences the Home Crowd in Turin
Date: 3/13/2014
Match: Juventus v. Fiorentina
Competition: Europa League, Round of 16
Ground: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
Mario Gomez hasn't quite been in the headlines like he was in his prime at Bayern Munich, but the German international reminded Juventus and all of Europe just how deadly he still is in front of goal. Check out the fantastic first touch to collect the pass, then the smooth turn and strike on the finish. This late equalizer could prove a vital away goal ahead of the two Italian sides second leg clash this Thursday.
11. Fabian Tello Takes on All of Paraguay
Date: 3/10/2014
Match: Ecuador U16 v. Paraguay U16
Competition: South American Games
Ground: Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile
16-year-old Fabian Tello showed the composure of a seasoned veteran as he evaded nine challenges, count 'em folks, en route to scoring this solo golazo for Ecuador during their U16 clash with Paraguy this week. Challenges and lunges come in from all over, including a fruitless last-ditch effort from the keeper, but Tello keeps his composure and slots in the easy finish.
10. Bastian Schweinsteiger Scores the Winner in Munich
Date: 3/15/2014
Match: Bayern Munich v. Bayer Leverkusen
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Allianz Arena, Munich
Bastian Schweinsteiger ensured Bayern would ration their 100 percent home record this season with this fantastic free kick. The German international shows perfect technique as he lifts the ball up and over the wall and nestles it into the back of the net. He turns the keeper into little more than a spectator on this one.
9. David Silva Shows Off His Magical Left Foot
Date: 3/15/2014
Match: Hull v. Manchester City
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: KC Stadium, Hull, England
Manchester City turned in a true champions performance this weekend after going down to 10 men just minutes into their match at Hull. This sumptuous left-footed effort from David Silva would prove the match winner, as the Citizens blanked the Tigers despite their man disadvantage. This perfectly placed curler from the Spaniard is a thing of beauty.
8. Christian Eriksen's Freekick Puts Spurs on the Board
Date: 3/13/2014
Match: Tottenham v. Benfica
Competition: Europa League, Round of 16
Ground: White Hart Lane, London
This was a sublime free kick from Christian Eriksen to put Tottenham on the board at home to Benfica in the Europa League. But the Portuguese side was too strong for the Premier League club, Jorge Jesus' charges put three past the home defense, and have all but sealed their spot in the last eight.
7. Rodolph Austin Sends Elland Road Into Delirium
Date: 3/11/2014
Match: Leeds v. Reading
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Ground: Elland Road, Leeds, England
While it was certainly the goal of the match, this 25-yard blast from Rodolph Austin wasn't enough for Leeds to secure a home victory against Reading on Tuesday. Forget the loss, though. Just check out the power and accuracy Austin gets on this effort. There isn't a keeper in the world who's saving that.
6. Tomas Rosicky Fires the Gunners Ahead in the Derby
Date: 3/16/2014
Match: Tottenham v. Arsenal
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: White Hart Lane, London
Tomas Rosicky scored this glorious volley less than two minutes into Arsenal's derby clash with Spurs on Sunday, and while it was certainly worthy of a winner, even he couldn't have known it would be the only goal in the match. Three massive road points to the Gunners courtesy of this blistering strike from Rosicky.
5. Vladimir Filatov Finds the Top Corner
Date: 3/12/2014
Match: Spartak Moscow v. Tosno
Competition: Russian Cup
Ground: Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow
This fantastic first-time volley from Filatov was as good a match winner as any, as third division side, Tosno, handed Spartak a shock defeat in the Russian capital. He catches this one right on the laces and leaves the Spartak keeper with no chance to make a save.
4. Luis Escalada's Perfectly Placed Effort
Date: 3/11/2014
Match: Emelec v. Leon
Competition: Copa Libertadores
Ground: Estadio George Capwell, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Escalada shows great vision and skill with this fine shot from range during Emelec's 2-1 Copa Lib victory over Leon. The Argentine spy's the keeper off his line, and goes for more pace than power, despite the long distance from goal.
3. Marvin Bakalorz Leaves the Keeper With no Chance
Date: 3/14/2014
Match: Paderborn v. Dynamo Dresden
Competition: 2. Bundesliga
Ground: Benteler Arena, Paderborn, Germany
There is no doubt that this is the greatest goal of Marvin Bakalorz career. Just watch as the German finds himself with time and space, winds his body up, and sizzles his shot into the top corner. Bakalorz catches this strike so sweetly that it's still moving when it hits the back of the net.
2. Lee Dong-Gook Let's Fly From Distance
Date: 3/12/2014
Match: Melbourne Victory v. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Competition: Asian Champions League
Ground: Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
You can travel to every corner of the globe, and you still may not find a better strike than this blast from Lee Dong-Gook. The South Korean international struck twice within three minutes in the match, but this would-be winner was cancelled out just two minutes later by a late Melbourne goal. What shame.
1. Sergio Oliveira Doesn't Need a Second Invitation
Date: 3/15/2014
Match: Vitoria Guimarae v. Pacos de Ferreira
Competition: Portuguese Liga
Ground: Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques, Guimaraes, Portugal
What a blast from the foot of Sergio Oliveira to seal all three points for Pacos de Ferreira on their travels. The Portuguese midfielder is at least 30 yards out when he strikes this ball, but he finds the top corner with the precision of a guided missile. The victory also lifted Pacos out of the relegation zone.
