Champions League Best Ever... Goals with Gareth Bale's bicycle kick at number one

Matt Jones - Editor 16:02 26/05/2019
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  • Gareth Bale's Champions League final goal against Liverpool

    The two sides entering the Metropolitano Stadium on June 1 can legitimately be pinned up against some of the great European sides witnessed during the competition’s rich history.

    Ahead of this blockbuster encounter between Tottenham and Liverpool we’re running a series on Europe’s elite competition called the ‘Best Ever…’ and on this occasion we’re examining the greatest goals to have graced the tournament.

    Trimming the list down to five is an enormously tricky task and any one of the five picked hold claim to top spot.

    But here is our look at the five best European Cup/Champions League goals.

    1. GARETH BALE

    Real Madrid v Liverpool, Champions League final – May 26, 2018

    Is there anything better than scoring the winner in a Champions League final? In football, certainly not. Especially in these circumstances. Your team is level at 1-1, second best to Liverpool.

    You’ve endured a testing season in terms of form, injury and relationship with the manager, while the unforgiving Los Blancos fans are not exactly your biggest supporters. So, you come on with an hour gone and produce not only the crucial goal to put your side 2-1 ahead – but a stunning and perfectly executed overhead kick that will go down as the greatest goal ever scored in a final, and arguably the best the competition has ever seen.

    It’s also better than a near mirror image goal scored by club icon Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the competition. Not that it seems to have bought much good faith for Bale, who is still admonished by Real fans. If that goal doesn’t buy you eternal love, nothing will.

    2. LIONEL MESSI

    Barcelona v Real Madrid, Champions League semi-final first leg – April 27, 2011

    Messi the magician could maybe have had his own Champions League top five, and this would be top of the list. Even by his exalted standards he’d have to admit this goal was a bit special.

    He starts the move just inside his own half with a pass to Sergio Busquets who proceeds to receive the most illegitimate assist by merely touching it back to the Argentine who proceeds to dance around five players in white – including Sergio Ramos twice – before slotting beyond Iker Casillas with his weaker right foot.

    He’d also shrugged off the attentions of Lassana Diarra and Marcelo and sprinted past a bamboozled Raul Albiol before slotting home. Additionally, you have to applaud the context in which it is scored; against Barca’s fierce foes to put them 2-0 up at the Bernabeu and place one foot in the final – they went on to beat Manchester United 3-1 for their fourth crown.

    3. ZINEDINE ZIDANE

    Real Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen, Champions League final – May 15, 2002

    A lot like Bale’s in the sense that, apart from being an absolute belter, it was a pivotal strike in a final. The Frenchman has overseen a golden European period for Los Blancos in which he led them to three straight Champions League successes – it was the first time any club had done so since Bayern Munich in the mid-1970s.

    But it was as a player that Zizou initially made his name, and he was pretty imperious. Everything about the strike is stunning. Zidane stops as he has to readjust his body after Roberto Carlos’ hooked cross, which is slightly behind him.

    Then there’s the shimmy as he moves into position, then the focus and consummate control as he volleys it assuredly past the despairing dive of the helpless Hans-Jorg Butt. Iconic.

    4. RONALDINHO

    Barcelona v Chelsea, Champions League last 16 second leg – March 8 2005

    It’s fair to say no-one saw this strike coming, no-one except the mercurial Brazilian of course. This was peak Champions League viewing for supporters in their mid-30s, when barn-burning knockout games were played with regularity among the elite and the goals rained down.

    This quarter-final tie was a thriller, eventually won 5-4 by Chelsea. Having lost the first leg in Spain 2-1, they stormed back into contention by taking a 3-0 lead at Stamford Bridge – only for the pony-tailed one’s double.

    The second, after he’d scored a penalty, was stunning and meant Barcelona were going through at 4-4. A long ball was headed clear only to Andres Inisesta who flicked the ball to Ronaldinho, with seemingly nothing on.

    Ricardo Carvalho stood him up impressively enough but then stood rooted as Ronaldinho stepped and shimmied his right foot before punching the ball with the toe of his boot just inside Petr Cech’s post. Unbelievable.

    5. DEJAN STANKOVIC

    Inter Milan v Schalke, Champions League quarter-final first leg – April 5, 2011

    There didn’t seem to be too much of note in the opening minute of this quarter-final, first leg tie at the San Siro – save for some seemingly brave and excellent goalkeeping from Manuel Neuer.

    The giant German rushed out to head bravely away as Inter’s Diego Milito chased a long ball. Neuer’s header almost reached the halfway line. But Stankovic steadied himself and volleyed it straight back from where it had come, his controlled strike perfectly struck as it arrowed back over a sea of motionless white shirts, plus Neuer, and into the unguarded net.

    Just 33 seconds had elapsed. As it was, it was a rare highlight for the hosts who went on to suffer a 5-2 hammering and lost the tie 7-3 on aggregate. But at least Stankovic had this improbable goal to savour.

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