Top 10 Best Champions League Goals of 2011

Europe’s leading football competition, the UEFA Champions League, has been a prime target for any footballer to play in. Thus, the goals which are scored are usually of a high standard and this year certainly hasn’t hindered that in any way. Total Pro Sports has compiled a list of the top 10 best Champions League goals of 2011.

#10 – Lionel Messi vs Arsenal:

Two matches prior to this goal against Arsenal in the Champions League within Camp Nou, Lionel Messi scored a total of four goals against the London outfit during 2010. The Barcelona star haunted Arsenal again with a deaf touch to lift it up, alluding Almunia with another touch into the air, and then finishing calmly into an open goal.

#9 – Robin van Persie vs Barcelona:

During the first leg of Arsenal’s match with Barcelona in the Champions League during 2011, the club had already been a goal down via a David Villa strike during the first half. However, with the game approaching the final ten minutes, Arsenal striker Robin van Persie made Victor Valdes witness an unexpected shot with a drilled effort – a touch of brilliant technique and vision from the striker – that flew past the Barcelona keeper.

#8 – Pedro vs BATE Borisov:

Pedro had been a consistent performer for Barcelona in the previous season but has had his chances limited this season due to injury. When he does play, though, he always manages to impress and against BATE Borisov in the Champions League recently, the winger scored with a back-heel flick that surprised the keeper and consequently got past him.

#7 – Marco Streller vs Manchester United:

Marco Streller’s goal against Manchester United was one to admire; you don’t see these go in too often, but Streller guides the ball into the net with a shot that was powerful enough to rebound off the ground and above David de Gea’s reach.

#6 – David Silva vs Bayern Munich:

In Manchester City’s encounter with Bayern Munich in their last group game of the Champion League, the club had to win the game to stand any potential chance of progressing. Up steps David Silva who opens the game’s scoring with a shot that one can’t help but admire; the midfielder chests the ball down across the area outside the box and drives in a guided, powerful shot into the bottom left hand corner.

#5 – Dejan Stankovic vs Schalke 04:

Dejan Stankovic’s career has spanned for well over a decade now and during his prolonged career the midfielder has scored some memorable goals. In this match, Schalke’s goalkeeper heads the ball out, but it dips for Stankovic – he was just ahead of the half way line – and he volleys from 45 + yards, which results in the ball flying into the back of the net.

#4 – Wayne Rooney vs Barcelona:

Wayne Rooney always seems to deliver on the bigger occasions in football (except the 2010 World Cup, of course), and he certainly delivered during the Champions League final. Initially playing some decent build up play with Ryan Giggs, the striker receives the ball for the final time in the final third where he side foots a curling shot that beats Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

#3 – David Villa vs Manchester United:

It’s the Champions League final; arguably the ultimate stage of football and the pinnacle of any footballer’s career. David Villa, one of the most talented strikers for the past decade, stops the ball upon receiving it whilst moving it a tad bit ahead of him and then curls an effort that Edwin van der Sar couldn’t reach, even with his height and quality.

#2 – Lionel Messi vs Real Madrid:

Lionel Messi has an agenda against Real Madrid; arguably the best footballer in the history of the sport, the player almost always seems to find the back of the net against Barcelona’s arch-rivals. In this instance, during the first leg of Barcelona’s Champions League encounter with Madrid, Messi embarks on a simply mesmerizing run where he runs from a little past the half way line, past the defenders with his pace and finishes with a cool strike that finds its way into the corner of the goal.

#1 – Perisic vs Arsenal:

Arsenal’s first Champions League game was ruined with one of the best goals scored in 2011 within the competition and undoubtedly in recent years; during the dying embers of the game, Perisic volleys a shot that leaves Szczesny helpless; such was the quality of the Borussia Dortmund player’s strike.

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