10 Best Golazos from World Football This Weekend
It's time to give the fixture computers a token of our collective thanks.
Over the weekend we were treated to a plethora of mouth-watering matchups, including big derby games in Madrid, north London, Melbourne and on Merseyside. There was also the matter of glamour ties such as Milan at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain taking on Ligue 1 leaders Lyon. That's a lot of unmissable football.
The weekend also brought us a multitude of world-class golazos, which you will find ranked here. Honourable mentions go to the free-kicks of James Milner, David Alaba, Tom Ince and Zlatko Junuzovic. Memphis Depay's beautiful effort for PSV against Utrecht was also noteworthy, but here are the top-10 bobby-dazzlers from the weekend...
10. Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea) vs. Aston Villa
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Chelsea earned three points at Villa Park on Saturday thanks to a winning goal from Branislav Ivanovic.
In the 66th minute, the Serbian found himself in acres of space in the Aston Villa penalty box and took the opportunity to blast in a wonderful left-footed volley.
The only thing more impressive than Ivanovic's goal was the fact that Aston Villa actually scored a goal—something they had failed to do in the previous 660 minutes of football, as per Infostrada Sports.
9. Wahbi Khazri (Bordeaux) vs. Evian
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Bordeaux earned a 1-0 win at Evian Thonon Gaillard on Saturday thanks to something rather special performance from Wahbi Khazri.
In the 11th minute, the Tunisia international picked up the ball around 40 yards from the goal, charged toward his target and managed to place a beautiful side-footed shot into the top corner from distance.
8. David Barral (Levante) vs. Malaga
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David Barral bagged a hat-trick in Levante's 4-1 decimation of Malaga on Saturday, but two of those goals came from the penalty spot.
The 31-year-old's opener in the 27th minute, however, was a strike from outside the area that was so fierce that no goalkeeper in the world would have had a chance of saving it.
7. Christian Gimenez (Cruz Azul) vs. Monterrey
4 of 10Cruz Azul stayed atop Liga MX on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Monterrey. The goal came in the 23rd minute, when Christian Gimenez received the ball from a throw-in, played a lovely one-two with striker Alemao and then volleyed home.
6. Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) vs. Stuttgart
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After taking only one point from two games since the Bundesliga recommenced at the end of January, Bayern Munich returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory at VfB Stuttgart.
Die Roten took the lead in the 41st minute when Arjen Robben played a neat one-two with Mitchell Weiser down the right flank before unleashing a fabulous left-footed volley over Stuttgart 'keeper Sven Ulreich.
5. Saul (Atletico Madrid) vs. Real Madrid
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Atletico Madrid shocked city rivals Real with a comprehensive 4-0 victory in the Madrid derby on Saturday.
In the 18th minute, Atleti went 2-0 ahead when substitute midfielder Saul struck a lovely overhead kick from a Guilherme Siqueira chipped cross.
4. Shay Logan (Aberdeen) vs. Ross County
7 of 10See the goal at [2:55]
Aberdeen maintained their pursuit of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 4-0 home win over Ross County on Saturday.
The pick of the goals came in the 61st minute, when Shay Logan curled in a stunning left-footed effort from the edge of the area.
Not a bad finish for a defender!
3. Michael Bradley (USA) vs. Panama
8 of 10With Major League Soccer not set to return until March, the USA hosted a friendly against Panama in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Michael Bradley opened the scoring in style in the 26th minute, when his corner kick sailed straight in. This textbook Olimpico started the U.S. on the road to a 2-0 win.
2. Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham) vs. Manchester United
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Daley Blind scored a lovely late volley to earn Manchester United a 1-1 draw at Upton Park on Sunday, but West Ham United's opener was even more beautiful.
In the 49th minute, Cheikhou Kouyate controlled a Mark Noble free-kick in the area, juggled the ball twice with his back to goal and slotted past David de Gea while spinning toward goal.
1. Leandro Benegas (Club Universidad de Chile) vs. Huachipato
10 of 10Argentinian striker Leandro Benegas scored what must surely be the greatest goal of his career on Saturday.
Benegas' Universidad de Chile side drew 2-2 with Chilean Primera Division rivals Huachipato, with the 26-year-old equalising just before half-time with an absolutely sensational overhead kick from near the edge of the area.
In the moments that followed the wonder strike, however, he didn't exactly cover himself in glory. According to 101 Great Goals, Benegas was sent off for celebrating the goal in an obscene manner!
