Image via Complex Original
After the completion of the semifinals in both the Champions and Europa Leagues this week, we now know that it will be an all-Madrid final in Lisbon on the 24th to decide the UCL, and it will be Benfica and Sevilla to contest the Europa title in Turin on the 14th. Sevilla scored a last-minute header to crush Valencia's comeback dreams, and Benfica traveled to Italy where they frustrated Juventus to a 0-0 draw. Real shocked the German champions in Munich to the tune of 4-0, while Atletico scored three at Stamford Bridge to see off Chelsea.
While Europe provided much of the drama this week, domestic action at the weekend provided the best goals. An array of overhead finishes, long-range blasts, and thumping volleys from around Europe caught our eye, while the title races inched closer to completion. With Roma's loss today, Juventus claim their 30th Serie A title, while Barca's draw and Atletico's defeat at Levante could mean it's Real who will capture the La Liga crown. Manchester City have one hand on the title after their win at Everton, while Chelsea and Liverpool lurk just behind. The final weeks of the domestic seasons are upon us, and what a ride it's been. From Ross Barkley's cracking opener at Goodison to Pawal Brozek's career night in Krakow, check out The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
12. Nolito Plays the Osasuna Defense Like a Fiddle
Date: 5/3/2014
Match: Osasuna v. Celta Vigo
Competition: La Liga
Ground: El Sadar, Pamplona, Spain
After being released with a wonderful little through ball, Nolito shows great trickery and touch with this deft finish. The Spaniard spots the Osasuna keeper stranded in no man's land on the edge of his own six-yard box, and executes the chip to perfection. Always awesome for a striker when he embarrasses a keeper, and leaves a defender on the floor mangled in the back of the net.
11. Lionel Messi Finishes Barca's Fast-Paced Attack
Date: 5/3/2014
Match: Barcelona v. Getafe
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
From being knocked out of the Champions League to losing Tito Vilanova to cancer, It's been a year to forget in more ways than one for Barcelona. And despite this fine pick out from Dani Alves, and wonderfully placed finish from Lionel Messi, it was disappointment again for the Catalans as they conceded the equalizer at home in the 92nd minute on Saturday. One point instead of three virtually knocks them out of the La Liga title race as well.
10. Claudio Pizarro Turns Back the Clock at the Imtech
Date: 5/3/2014
Match: Hamburger SV v. Bayern Munich
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Imtech Arena, Hamburg, Germany
At 35 years old, Claudio Pizarro's days as a prolific striker are certainly behind him. However, the Peruvian was able to turn back the clock on Saturday with this fine overhead finish against Hamburg. Sure, the goalie is stuck in no man's land as a result of Pizarro's initial effort, but that should take nothing away from this finish. That smile on the face of the former Chelsea man says it all.
9. Kevin De Bruyne Fires Wolfsburg Ahead
Date: 5/3/2014
Match: VfB Stuttgart v. Wolfsburg
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart, Germany
It might not have worked out for Kevin De Bruyne at Chelsea, but the Belgian youngster is definitely starting to spread his wings in Germany. This rocket from the 22-year-old put the visitors on the board just 13 minutes in, and despite losing the lead in the 62nd, journeyman Ivica Olic sealed all three points for VfL in the 91st.
8. Carlos Tevez Brings Juve Level in Emilia-Romagna
Date: 4/28/2014
Match: Sassuolo v. Juventus
Competition: Serie A
Ground: Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia, Italy
Juventus have officialy clinched their 30th Serie A title as of today, but they wouldn't have known that on Monday before their 3-1 victory over Sassuolo. And despite the home side opening the scoring less than 10 minutes in, this bomb from El Apache brought the visitors level. From there the Old Lady would not look back.
7. Alireza Jahanbakhsh Does All the Work, and Reaps the Rewards
Date: 5/3/2013
Match: Ajax v. NEC
Competition: Dutch Eredivisie
Ground: Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
It's rare for Dutch leaders Ajax to drop points at home, and this effort from Alireza Jahanbakhsh shows just how hard one has to work to beat the Amsterdam side. The Iranian international starts by intercepting this lose pass at the back, and then rifles one low into the corner from nearly 30 yards out. The two sides shared the points with a 2-2 draw in the end, with Alireza clearly capturing the goal of the match.
6. Ander Herrera's Perfect Placement From 30 Yards Out
Date: 5/2/2014
Match: Rayo v. Athletic Bilbao
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, Madrid
Athletic made quick work of their hosts with a resounding 3-0 victory in Madrid on Friday. This perfectly placed free kick from Ander Herrera, from nearly 30 yards out, was the cherry on top of a perfect day for the visitors, who were also guaranteed a Champions League spot with the win.
5. Ross Barkley's Cracker Opens the Scoring at Goodison
Date: 5/3/2014
Match: Everton v. Manchester City
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Liverpool and Chelsea fans would've been glued to the television for yesterday's marquee matchup between Everton and Manchester City. And they would've been delighted when Ross Barkley put the home side ahead just 11 minutes in with this cracking finish. That feeling of hope was brief, though, as City would strike three times before Everton would register a consolation goal. City certainly have one hand on the title now.
4. Bjorn Daniel Sverrisson's Acrobatic Effort
Date: 5/1/2014
Match: Aalesund v. Viking
Competition: Norwegian Eliteserien
Ground: Color Line Stadion, Alesund, Norway
Sverrisson showcases his full array of skills on this overhead golazo. He executes great control to cushion the pass with this chest, and then hits a wonderfully placed effort into the top corner. This finish would prove to be the game winner too, as Aalesund would pull one goal back later in the match.
3. Pawel Brozek Caps his Career Night in Style
Date: 5/3/2014
Match: Wisla Krakow v. Pogon Szczecin
Competition: Polish Ekstraklasa
Ground: Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, Krakow, Poland
Wisla treated their guests to a 5-0 thumping in Krakow on Saturday, and this 40-yard blast from Pawel Brozek proved that apparently you can have your cake and eat it too. The goal was the 31-year-old's 100th of his career, and capped a hat trick for him on the night. #Winning
2. Garath McCleary Does his Best Zidane Impression
Date: 5/3/2014
Match: Reading v. Burnley
Competition: English League Championship
Ground: Madejski Stadium, Reading, England
Garrath McCleary must've been watching tapes of Zinedine Zidane on Friday night, because the Reading man pulled off a volley here that can only be describe as Zidane-esque. Forgive the quality of the GIF, which was probably taken from a living room somewhere in the greater Berkshire area, but this really is the best angle of the goal available. McCleary's sensational score was good enough for a point on the day, but Reading needed all three in order to book their place in a Championship promotion playoff. Instead, they finish the season in seventh, and a point back of the coveted last playoff spot.
1. Garry Mendes Rodrigues Drops the Hammer on Malaga
Date: 5/3/2014
Match: Malaga v. Elche
Competition: La Liga
Ground: La Rosaleda, Malaga, Spain
This 30-yard pile driver from Garry Mendes Rodrigues has to be a goal of the season candidate not just in Spain, but all of Europe. The Cape Verdean international struck this one just 11 minutes in for the only goal of the match, and that seems rather fitting considering the awesomeness of the finish. This thing is hit so hard it cannons out of the net almost as quickly as it went in. The reaction from Malaga keeper Willy Caballero, as well as the Elche bench, says it all really.
