Top 10 goals of the Champions League round of sixteen

The Champions League round of 16 has finally been completed, with 43 goals scored in total across the 16 games (an average of 2.7 goals per game). Juventus comfortably eliminated a resilient Celtic, while Galatasaray struggled against Schalke, and Borussia Dortmund defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in the second leg to silence their doubters after the 2-2 draw in the first leg. Real Madrid controversially went through at the expense of Manchester United and Arsenal fought hard, but couldn’t quite get the result needed to overcome a strong Bayern Munich side. Barcelona became the first team to overcome a 2-0 away deficit, while PSG managed to squeeze past Valencia and Malaga made it though to the quarter-finals of their first champions league. With plenty of goals from plenty of quality players, here are my top 10 of the Champions League quarter-final:

10. Fabio Quagliarella, Juventus vs Celtic

A well worked goal from Quagliarella to finish off a 5-0 aggregate win over Celtic. Pirlo spots the run of Vidal and plays a beautiful long ball over the top of the Celtic defense. Vidal then unselfishly plays the ball to Quagliarella who places it into an open net. Brilliant team play and well worthy of a spot on this top 10.

9. Darijo Srna, Shakhtar Donetsk vs Borussia Dortmund

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AwvAWKpV2I

Srna opens the scoring in the first leg against Borussia Dortmund with this brilliantly taken free kick. Although the free kick was relatively central, it had enough power and swerve to elude Weidenfeller and help Shaktar to a 2-2 draw.

8. Sulley Muntari, Milan vs Barcelona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRB_kEIIq0k

It takes a good goal to break down the Barcelona defense and Sulley Muntari gave us just that. El Sharawaay played a wonderful chipped ball to Muntari from within the area, and Muntari smashed the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Valdes no chance of saving it, and handing a famous victory to Milan.

7. Ezequiel Lavezzi, Valencia vs PSG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfSCY5lY11M

Ezequiel Lavezzi scores a wonderful goal against Valencia after 10 minutes of the tie. The former Napoli man plays a one-two with countryman Pastore and smashes the ball past Guaita from a tight angle  to put PSG in pole position to qualify.

6. Toni Kroos, Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9CQdeuBaxw

Toni Kroos scores a wonderful volley after 7 minutes at the Emirates after a great cross from Muller to put Bayern Munich 1-0 up and help them on their way to qualification for the next round.

5. Jonas, PSG vs Valencia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0W_ZUpwDYY

Jonas scores the first goal in the second leg against PSG to put the aggregate score at 2-2 and leave Valencia with a chance of progressing to the next round. Jonas picks up the ball in midfield, takes a couple of touches, and takes a powerful shot from outside the box, leaving Sirigu no chance.

4. Hamit Altintop, Schalke vs Galatasaray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5pcIIURwIs

Altintop receives a pass from an Inan free kick, takes a touch, and then rifles the ball into the net from 35 yards out. The ball swerves in the air and hits the post before going in, so that even the best goalkeeper would not have saved this shot.

3. Lionel Messi, Barcelona vs Milan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1TAw9ViuwM

This wouldn’t be a list of top 10 goals without a Messi goal, and his first goal against Milan at the Camp Nou definitely deserves to be on this list. Messi receives the ball from midfield before playing a one-two with Xavi and placing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box, leaving Abbiati hopeless.

2. Luca Modric, Manchester United vs Real Madrid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpTvpm9vhjw

Luca Modric completely changes the game with this goal which turns the tie in Madrid’s favour. Modric receives the ball, takes a touch and unleashes an unstoppable strike which curls into the bottom corner and out of De Gea’s reach to help Madrid progress to the quarter-finals.

1. Isco, Malaga vs Porto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nm_d_NB1o4

Isco shows great awareness and composure to spot Helton a couple of yards off his line, take a touch, and then send a shot across the goal and into the top corner from 20 yards out to cancel out Porto’s 1-0 advantage from the first leg.