We were treated to goals galore this week, with the penultimate group games of the Champions League, as well as all the top-flight domestic action at the weekend. Several star players helped keep their team’s European dreams alive, while a few new performers made waves in the league tables. Atletico Madrid continued to keep the pressure on a Messi-less Barcelona in Spain, and Bayern continued their winning ways in the Bundesliga. From Moussa Sissoko’s winner for Newcastle to Arturo Vidal’s hat trick in Turin, check out this action-packed edition of GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
RELATED: GIF Gallery: The Best Golazos and Skill Moves of the Week
20. Barcelona Undone by Ajax Tiki-Taka
Date: 11/26/2013
Match: Ajax v. Barcelona
Competition: Champions League group stage, matchday five
Ground: Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
Ajax kept themselves in contention to advance in Europe, and handed Barcelona their first loss of the season, with their 2-1 win over the Catalans on Tuesday. Despite being reduced to 10 men, the Dutch side took the game to the visitors and even took a page from their book with this goal. This lovely flick set up Ajax's opener, and they wouldn't look back.
19. Westwood Volleys Villa Level
Date: 11/25/2013
Match: West Brom v. Aston Villa
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England
West Brom jumped out to an early lead last Monday at home against Aston Villa, but this wonderful Ashley Westwood strike ensured each side would take a point from the match.
18. Coleman Finds the Top Corner
Date: 11/30/2013
Match: Everton v. Stoke
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Seamus Coleman isn't exactly known for his goal-scoring prowess, but it was that kind of day for Everton on Saturday. The defender did ever so well to get into the box, and steer his finish into the top corner. Credit where credit is due.
17. Nani Latches on and Finishes For United's Fifth
Date: 11/27/2013
Match: Bayer Leverkusen v. Manchester United
Competition: Champions League group stage, matchday five
Ground: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
Manchester United silenced their doubters with an emphatic 5-0 thumping of high-flying Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, this week. The Red Devils took the match to their hosts from the off, and this terrific pass, take, and finish capped United's five-star performance.
16. Vidal Bags His Hat Trick
Date: 11/27/2013
Match: Juventus v. FC Copenhagen
Competition: Champions League group stage, matchday five
Ground: Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy
Juventus needed all three points on Wednesday to give them any hope of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League. Lucky for them, Arturo Vidal was in a goal-scoring mood. His first two were expertly converted from the penalty spot, and this terrific header capped his hat trick.
15. Drogba's Fantastic Flick
Date: 11/27/2013
Match: Real Madrid v. Galatasaray
Competition: Champions League group stage, matchday five
Ground: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Galatasaray is in serious danger of not qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages, but it surely isn't this man's fault. Didier Drogba is still pulling things out of his bag of tricks, and this divine pass for Gala's only goal on the night is a prime example.
14. Mario Gotze's Jinking Run
Date: 11/27/2013
Match: CSKA Moscow v. Bayern Munich
Competition: Champions League group stage, matchday five
Ground: Arena Khimki, Moscow
Mario Gotze has slotted right into a Bayern side looking to repeat on last year's European success, and if he continues to score goals like this we certainly won't be betting against them. Gotze takes on the CSKA defense before finding himself in the box, and coolly finishing into the bottom corner.
13. Shane Long Turns Villa Inside Out
Date: 11/25/2013
Match: West Brom v. Aston Villa
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England
Shane Long had a game to remember last Monday in the midlands derby, as he scored two sublime goals. Here, Long shows some fancy dribbling skills before deftly chipping the keeper for the finish.
12. Jack Wilshere Gives Arsenal the Early Lead
Date: 11/26/2013
Match: Arsenal v. Marseille
Competition: Champions League group stage, matchday five
Ground: Emirates Stadium, London
Jack Wilshere all but secured Arsenal's spot in the last 16 of the Champions League with his brace against Marseille in midweek. This brilliant first goal came with less than a minute gone, and gave Wilshere the distinction of scoring the fastest goal by an Englishman in Champions League history. The Gunners are flying high, right now.
11. Oviedo Proves a Fine Sub For Baines
Date: 11/30/2013
Match: Everton v. Stoke
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
No Leighton Baines? No problem. Everton produced a resounding 4-0 victory over a visiting Stoke City side, that couldn't get out of Goodison soon enough. Baines' direct replacement, Bryan Oviedo, had a sound debut, highlighted by this second-half golazo.
10. Flamini Finishes After Ozil's Brilliant Pass
Date: 11/30/2013
Match: Cardiff City v. Arsenal
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff has proved a tough ground to go to for some of the bigger Premier League clubs this season, but those clubs aren't leading the league at the moment. Arsenal did what they've been doing all year, and came away with all three points in Wales. This brilliantly weighted pass from Mesut Ozil put Flamini in, and the Frenchman did the rest.
9. Adrian Lopez Puts Costa in
Date: 11/30/2013
Match: Elche v. Atletico Madrid
Competition: La Liga match
Ground: Manuel Martinez Valero, Elche, Spain
Adrian Lopez showed there's more to Atletico Madrid's success this season, than just Diego Costa. His perfectly weighted chip over the top showcased his superb vision and touch, as Atleti continued their winning ways. Okay, so it was Costa that finished, but did you see that pass?
8. Long's Wonderful Control and Finish
Date: 11/25/2013
Match: West Brom v. Aston Villa
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England
This superb piece of play from the Ireland international was first highlighted by his unbelievable take from the long ball, and then from the terrific curling finish. A goal any striker, past or present, would be very proud of.
7. A Stevie G Classic
Date: 12/1/2013
Match: Hull City v. Liverpool
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: KC Stadium, Hull, England
Liverpool fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat away at Hull on Sunday, after learning they'd also be without star striker Daniel Sturridge for six to eight weeks. This Steven Gerrard free kick was the lone bright spot on the day for the reds, who'll need a lot more of this in the coming weeks.
6. Cassano Volleys Home His 100th
Date: 11/30/2013
Match: Parma v. Bologna
Competition: Serie A match
Ground: Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy
Remember, Antonio Cassano? Well, the Italian put his name back in the headlines by not only recording his 100th Serie A goal, but doing it with some amount of flair. This brilliant finish from the former Sampdoria man, helped ensure Parma would at least take home a share of the spoils from the Derby dell'Emilia.
5. Aubameyang With the Curler
Date: 11/30/2013
Match: Mainz 05 v. Borussia Dortmund
Competition: Bundesliga match
Ground: Coface Arena, Mainz, Germany
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has already proven himself as a terrific signing for Borussia Dortmund. The Gabon international normally provides pace and width as he torments defenders down the flank, however, Aubameyang also showed he's capable of producing a moment of brilliance like this.
4. Douglas Costa's First Time Rocket
Date: 11/27/2013
Match: Shakhtar Donetsk v. Real Sociedad
Competition: Champions League group stage, matchday five
Ground: Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine
This absolute belter from Douglas Costa was exactly what Shaktar needed, as they looked to extend their European run this season. The Ukrainian giants tallied four on the night, with Costa collecting half of those. What a golazo.
3. Gareth Bale Silences the Doubters
Date: 11/27/2013
Match: Real Madrid v. Galatasaray
Competition: Champions League group stage, matchday five
Ground: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Even Gareth Bale said this was one of the best goals of his career so far. This signature dipping free kick was one of Madrid's four on the night, and without a doubt the pick of the bunch. Watch, and repeat.
2. Sissoko Wonder Strike Sinks the Albion
Date: 11/30/2013
Match: Newcastle United v. West Brom
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: St. James' Park, Newcastle, England
Newcastle claimed their fourth consecutive Premier League victory on Saturday, thanks to this winner from Moussa Sissoko. The Frenchman does so well to let the ball roll across his body, before thumping it into the top corner. That thing is moving for days.
1. Sandro's Sensational Strike
Date: 12/1/2013
Match: Tottenham v. Manchester United
Competition: English Premier League match
Ground: White Hart Lane, London
Tottenham is still looking to solve their goal-scoring problems, but this Sandro strike will at least make them forget about those issues for a while. The Brazilian showcases his full array of talents by turning Tom Cleverley like a top, and rifling past a helpless De Gea. It wasn't enough, though. A late Wayne Rooney penalty ensured a draw on the day.
