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

Goals, goals, and more goals. The soccer gods must’ve been smiling down on us this week, because we practically saw more action across the globe than we were able to keep track of. We started off the week with the long-awaited Lisbon derby in Portugal, and thanks to Enzo Perez, the match did not disappoint. As we headed into the midweek the plot thickened with a full round of EPL fixtures, as well as the Coppa Italia semis. Finally, the weekend provided us with the star-studded finale that the we deserved. The fifth round of the FA Cup took center stage all across England, while regular top-flight domestic leagues were in action almost everywhere else.

We’ve got goals from Spain, France, Italy, and Germany, of course. But we’ve also found a few gems from Belgium, Mexico, and the land down under. From Barcelona putting on a clinic at the Camp Nou to Mario Balotelli silencing the haters at the San Siro, lock yourselves in and check out this edition of the Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.

Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)

Date: 2/14/2014
Match: AC Milan v. Bologna
Competition: Serie A
Ground: San Siro, Milan

Check out this little bit of trickery from the veteran Montolivo during Milan's match against Bologna. A little lesson for all of you aspiring defenders, try and stay on your feet.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Eintracht Braunschweig v. Hamburger SV
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Eintracht-Stadion, Braunschweig, Germany

Check out the sublime bit of skill from Karim Bellarabi for Braunschweig. He collects the ball on the wing, cuts inside, turns his defender like a top, and finds his teammate for a wide-open goal.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Barcelona v. Rayo Vallecano
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

A goal true to the Barcelona mold, this terrific team effort shows why when they're on their game, the Blaugrana run smoother than a well-oiled machine. There is some serious passing porn going on here. Just check out that back heel from Iniesta, who finds Fabregas continuing his run, who finds Pedro with a perfectly timed pass for the finish. Barcelona finished with six goals on the day, but we know it could've been more.

Date: 2/16/2014
Match: Wellington Phoenix v. Melbourne Heart
Competition: A-League
Ground: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand

How about this pile driver from down under? Engelaar pounced to score this cracker just nine minutes into the match, as the visitors would go on to dismantle their hosts 5-0. This was Engelaar's first action for Melbourne after returning from a one-match suspension.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Borussia Dortmund v. Eintracht Frankfurt
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: Signad Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

Dortmund dismantled Frankfurt to the tune of 4-0 on Saturday, and this terrific pick out and finish by the black and yellow got the party started early. Aubameyang is skillfully found near the back post, but his terrific first time side-footed finish leaves the keeper with no chance at a save.

Date: 2/11/2014
Match: Fiorentina v. Udinese
Competition: Coppa Italia
Ground: Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy

Fiorentina dispatched Udinese 2-0 on the night, and 3-0 overall, to book their spot in the Italian Cup final. This fantastic reaction shot from Manuel Pasqual opened the scoring in Florence, and proved to be crucial for the Viola's advancement. This is a great side-footed effort into the roof of the net.

Date: 2/12/2014
Match: Fulham v. Liverpool
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: Craven Cottage, London

Vintage Steven Gerrard alert. Check out the Reds skipper with the perfectly weighted pass, using the outside of his boot no less, to set up Daniel Sturridge. The placement is inch perfect on this. What a ball.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Fiorentina v. Inter Milan
Competition: Serie A
Ground: Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy

What a move this is from Rodrigo Palacio. First, let's give the Argentine credit for getting himself back onside before the ball is played through. Then, he displays unbelievable close control with the chest before beating the keeper to the ball and finding the back of the net all in one motion. Fantastic turn and set up on the assist from Fredy Guarin, as well.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Bayer Leverkusen v. Schalke 04
Competition: Bundesliga
Ground: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany

Leon Goretzka may be just 19, but he showed the class and composure of a veteran with this move. He motors onto the Bayer defender to take the ball, avoids the wild challenge of another, and then rounds it off with a finish that's cooler than the other side of the pillow. Schalke took all three points with an impressive away win.

Date: 2/12/2014
Match: Newcastle v. Tottenham
Competition: English Premier League
Ground: St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Spurs absolutely thumped Newcastle at St. James during their midweek fixture. The three points were already in tow back to London, but this late goal from Nacer Chadli was the cherry on top. Sure, there isn't a Newcastle defender anywhere near the Belgian, but he still has plenty to do in order to get the execution right on this shot.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Barcelona v. Rayo Vallecano
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

Lionel Messi is back, people. With a touch as delicate as angel's wings, Messi effortlessly chips the helpless Rayo keeper, and proves once more why he's the best. Messi would score again later in the match to notch his 228th La Liga goal, passing Di Stefano to move into third all-time on the league scoring chart.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Bastia v. Monaco
Competition: Ligue one
Ground: Armand Cesari, Bastia, France

James Rodriguez has been something of a revelation in his first season with Monaco, notching five goals and nine assists already this campaign. The Colombian continued his fine form with a brace in Bastia, which ensured his club would remain five points adrift of leaders PSG. This stunning free kick was Rodriguez's first on the night, and would prove to be the match winner.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Cruz Azul v. Puebla
Competition: Liga MX
Ground: Estadio Azul, Mexico City

Marco Fabian shows sublime skill with this deft finish against Puebla. He collects the pass with a terrific touch, turns to create enough space for himself, and lobs the keeper for the goal. Check out the fine print, folks. This was indeed the match winner in the 93rd minute.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Sunderland v. Southampton
Competition: FA Cup
Ground: Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England

This brilliant Craig Gardner strike was the lone goal in Sunderland's FA Cup clash with Southampton on Saturday, and it was certainly a worthy winner. Gardner catches it so sweetly, and loops it in off the underside of the bar to send the Saints marching home.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: KV Mechelen v. KV Oostende
Competition: Belgian Jupiler League
Ground: Argosstadion Achter de Kazerne, Mechelen, Belgium

What a left-footed swerver from Fed Vico. You just don't expect him to try his luck from there, but Vico has a look and decides to have a pop. And pop he does, as his rocket sails right over the keeper and into the back of the net off the post. The Belgian Jupiler League has officially cracked the Golazos countdown.

Date: 2/12/2014
Match: Aston Villa U21s v. Fulham U21s
Competition: English Premier League (U21s)
Ground: Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, Warwickshire, England

Kostas Mitroglou still hasn't made his first team debut for Fulham since signing in January, but with this beauty he scored for the U-21 side, surely his moment is now. It may not have been a senior game, but this is one wicked left-footed effort from the Greece international. The bottom of the table Cottagers are going to need all the help they can get if they're to avoid the drop come May.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Cardiff City v. Wigan Athletic
Competition: FA Cup
Ground: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

FA Cup titleholders, Wigan, were in no mood to give up their quest to defend their crown at Wembley in a few months time. This Ben Watson thumper from a set piece five minutes before the half proved to be the match winner, and what a winner it was. Watson absolutely smashes this one from 25 yards out, and the Championship side are now into the last eight.

Date: 2/15/2014
Match: Barcelona v. Rayo Vallecano
Competition: La Liga
Ground: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

After missing several weeks with an ankle injury, Neymar emphatically marked his return to the pitch. The final goal in Barca's 6-0 rout of Rayo, this laser is a good sign for a Barcelona side that is going to have to fight off both Madrid clubs for the La Liga crown this season. What a cracker.

Date: 2/11/2014
Match: S.L. Benfica v. Sporting Lisbon
Competition: Portuguese Liga
Ground: Estadio Da Luz, Lisboa, Portugal

The Lisbon derby was initially delayed due to a partial roof collapse at the Estadio da Luz. Well, this goal from Enzo Perez was surely worth the wait. First, the Benfica man makes a fool out of his defender, and then he rifles his shot into the top corner for the finish. The keeper's reaction says it all really. 2-0 to Benfica on the day meant all the bragging rights went to the Eagles supporters.

Date: 2/14/2014
Match: AC Milan v. Bologna
Competition: Serie A
Ground: San Siro, Milan

You'd be hard-pressed to find a sweeter and purer strike this season, than this peach from Super Mario. Add to the mix that this was the 86th minute winner, and, well, Balotelli does what it do. No celebration required, kids.

Date: 2/16/2014
Match: VfR Aalen v. Energie Cottbus
Competition: 2. Bundesliga
Ground: Scholz-Arena, Aalen, Germany

Oh, yes. Sascha Traut has to catch this ball absolutely perfect in order to find the back of the net, and lucky for us he did just that. How sweet is this goal from 25 yards out? Just watch, and repeat. We're going to do the same.