The 20 Best Champions League Goals of the Season

Dipping free kicks, stunning volleys, and long-range blasts, what were the best goals from the 2013-14 Champions League?

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The 2013-14 Champions League season provided us with plenty of drama-filled matches, and ever-changing story lines. We saw surprise clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen and Olympiacos progress to the Round of 16, while Juventus, Benfica, and Porto all failed to make it out of the group stage. Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal both emerged from the "group of death," with Napoli and Marseille coming up short, though neither the Germans nor the London side were able to advance past the quarterfinals. Now, Real and Atletico are the last two standing. A Madrid derby in Lisbon will decide if it will be Los Colchoneros who claim the title of champions of Spain and Europe, or whether Los Merengues will capture their 10th European Cup. But before these giants of football square off on Saturday, we took a look back at what made this seasons Champions League so special. From Jens Hegeler's last-minute winner in Leverkusen to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's belter in Brussels, check out The 20 Best Champions League Goals of the Season.

Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)

20. Neymar's Equalizer Ignites Catalunya

Date: 4/1/2014
Match: Barcelona v. Atletico Madrid
Stage: Quarterfinals
Ground: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

The Camp Nou exploded when Neymar latched onto this perfectly threaded through ball from Iniesta, and curled one past Thibaut Courtois. This goal from the Brazilian brought Barca right back into the first leg of their quarterfinal match against their Spanish rivals, though in the end it wasn't meant to be. Atelti won the second leg 1-0 thanks to a goal from Koke, and Barcelona must now look to the future.

19. Raul Garcia Leaves Helton With no Chance

Date: 12/11/2013
Match: Atletico Madrid v. Porto
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Vicente Calderon, Madrid

Raul Garcia did ever so well here to hold off his defender, free himself for a shot, and fire a bullet past a helpless Helton in goal. Perhaps this goal on the final group matchday was a sign of the special things to come for Atleti, as they now stand on the edge of history.

18. Javier Pastore Scores a Late Third

Date: 4/2/2014
Match: Paris Saint-Germain v. Chelsea
Stage: Quarterfinals
Ground: Parc des Princes, Paris

Javier Pastore was much-malligned by the press following his big-money move to the French capital, but this third goal in the 92nd minute of PSG's first leg quarterfinal clash against Chelsea made him an instant hero. Unfortunately for Pastore, Ibra, and Cavani it wasn't mean to be in the English capital, as Chelsea went through to the semis with a 3-3 victory on away goals.

17. Mesut Ozil Seals the Deal for Arsenal

Date: 10/1/2013
Match: Arsenal v. Napoli
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Emirates, London

Coming off a 2-1 victory in Marseille, Arsenal were flying high on matchday two when Mesut Ozil got things started with this banger. The German international struck just eight minutes in with this sweeping effort, and would set up Giroud for Arsenal's second just seven minutes later. Six points from six had the Emirates rocking.

16. Cristiano Ronaldo is Simply the Best

Date: 9/17/2013
Match: Galatasaray v. Real Madrid
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Turk Telekom Arena, Istanbul

Where would Real Madrid be without the goals, cunning, and guile of one Cristiano Ronaldo. The best player in the world at the moment, CR7 made the Galatasaray defenders look plain silly on this move and finish in Istanbul. It's like the ball is attached to his foot when he's in the mood. Not a bad finish with the left either. How sweet it would be for the Portuguese captain to win the Champions League in Lisbon just ahead of the World Cup.

15. Toni Kroos Hits the Gunners With a Case of Deja Vu at the Emirates

Date: 2/19/2014
Match: Arsenal v. Bayern Munich
Stage: Round of 16
Ground: Emirates, London

Same place, eerily similar goal. Toni Kroos played Arsenal's executioner once again this season, as this stunning away goal put Arsene Wenger's men in a heap of trouble after the first leg. Down 2-0 after a home match against Bayern was all but a death sentence, really. How perfect is the placement on this effort?

14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Grabs a Brace in Leverkusen

Date: 2/18/2014
Match: Bayer Leverkusen v. Paris Saint-Germain
Stage: Round of 16
Ground: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany

During PSG's Round of 16 clash with Leverkusen, Zlatan Ibra Kadabra showed he can be just as lethal with his left foot as he is his with his favored right. This lazer was his second goal in less than five minutes, and thanks to a 4-0 win in Germany this tie was all but over after the first leg.

13. Julian Draxler's Winner on Matchday Two

Date: 10/1/2013
Match: Basel v. Schalke 04
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland

This volley from Julian Draxler had the miners believing on matchday two in Basel. The only goal of the match, this superbly guided effort from the 20-year-old was a worthy winner. If not for a Round of 16 encounter with finalists Real Madrid, who knows how far Schalke would've gone in this years competition.

12. Yaya Toure Finds the Top Corner

Date: 9/17/2013
Match: Viktoria Plzen v. Manchester City
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Doosan Arena, Plzen, Czech Republic

As he did all year, Yaya Toure produced one of his curling specials on matchday one in the Czech Republic. As the Plzen defense would soon learn, you simply cannot give this man that much time and space without getting burned. 3-0 City on the night, and their first three points of the Champions League proper. Happy belated, Yaya!

11. Gareth Bale's Dipping and Dancing Free Kick

Date: 11/27/2013
Match: Real Madrid v. Galatasaray
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

In what he hailed as one of the greatest goals of his career, Gareth Bale showed the Bernabeu crowd exactly what they wanted on the penultimate group matchday in Madrid. This free kick from the Welsh wizard flutters, knuckles, and teases before landing in the back of the Galatasaray net. Madrid ran out 4-1 winners on the day, and Gareth Bale will be looking for something similar in Lisbon.

10. Luka Modric Blasts Real Ahead in Denmark

Date: 12/10/2013
Match: København v. Real Madrid
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark

Having not lost a match throughout the group stage, Real Madrid were already firmly placed to progress to the knockout phases as Group B leaders. However, a team like Real does not take their foot off the gas, and on the final matchday in Denmark, Luka Modric provided a moment of real brilliance. The former Spurs man skillfully shakes his defender, and fires in this unstoppable effort. La decima calling?

9. Vladimir Weiss Embarrasses the Paris Rearguard

Date: 9/17/2013
Match: Olympiacos v. Paris Saint-Germain
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Athens, Greece

Vladimir Weiss produced an individual moment of brilliance on matchday one in front of his home crowd. With his side trailing 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Cavani, Weiss dribbled through the PSG back line before slotting home past Salvatore Sirigu. Olympiacos would lose this opening match 4-1, but they would regroup nicely to advance to the Round of 16.

8. Douglas Costa Leaves no Doubt in Donetsk

Date: 11/27/2013
Match: Shakhtar Donetsk v. Real Sociedad
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine

Shakhtar Donetsk ultimately fell short of their bid to emerge from the group stage, but they were still in contention on the penultimate matchday in Donetsk. And this blast from Douglas Costa had the Donbass Arena faithful firmly in belief of advancing. Seemingly with no angle for a shot, Costa blasts this first-time effort past a keeper who surely wasn't expecting the rip. Not that there was anything he could do to make the save either way.

7. Jens Hegeler's Captures Bayer's First Three Points

Date: 10/2/2013
Match: Bayer Leverkusen v. Real Sociedad
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany

Having suffered a 4-2 loss on matchday one, Leverkusen and their fans were in need of a serious boost, and more importantly, their first three points of the competition. Jens Hegeler delivered both with one masterful stroke in the 92nd minute. With the score locked 1-1, Jegeler blasted this free kick past the Sociedad keeper, and sent the BayArena crowd into delirium. Terrific effort from Sami Hyppia's Leverkusen this season in Europe.

6. Hulk Hammers the Visitors in Front

Date: 3/19/2014
Match: Borussia Dortmund v. Zenit
Stage: Round of 16
Ground: Signad Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

Zenit and Dortmund produced a nine-goal thriller over the course of two legs in their Round of 16 clash, and there's little doubt as to which was the pick of the bunch. This thunderbolt from Hulk opened the second leg scoring in Germany, and must've had the visitors thinking upset. BVB would progress to the quarters, but Hulk and Zenit will alway have this goal.

5. Patrice Evra Gives United Hope

Date: 4/8/2014
Match: Bayern Munich v. Manchester United
Stage: Quarterfinals
Ground: Allianz Arena, Munich

Bayern Munich eventually emerged comfortably from their quarterfinal clash with Manchester United, by an aggregate score line of 4-2, but the Bavarians would've felt uneasy in the immediate moments following this goal from Patrice Evra. The sides were tied 1-1 going into this second leg clash in Munich, and this perfectly struck volley from the most unlikely of goal scorers had United in the ascendency. Bayern would strike two minutes later, and three times in less than 20 minutes overall, but for a brief moment United supporters were dreaming big.

4. Lorenzo Insigne Bangs it in Off the Bar

Date: 9/18/2013
Match: Napoli v Dortmund
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy

Lorenzo Insigne provided all the magic in Naples on matchday one. With his side clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Italian international stepped up and belted this free kick in off the bar to double their advantage. It was the perfect way to kick start Napoli's campaign, though their bid for the knockout phase fell just short.

3. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Pulls One Back for Schalke

Date: 2/26/2014
Match: Schalke 04 v. Real Madrid
Stage: Round of 16
Ground: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Real Madrid absolutely shredded their German hosts in the first leg of the Round of 16. BBC each had a brace, and the home fans were desperately seeking for something to cheer about on the night. Enter Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. The hunter stepped up and rifled this rocket past a diving Iker Casillas. The tie may have already been out of reach, but Huntelaar gave the Gelsenkirchen faithful something they will never forget.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Doesn't Need a Second Invitation

Date: 10/23/2013
Match: Anderlecht v. Paris Saint-Germain
Stage: Group Stage
Ground: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels

Zlatan Ibrahimovic turned in the performance of a lifetime on matchday three in Brussels. He led the Parisians to a 5-0 thumping of their hosts, putting in four goals of his own, and capped the day with this volleyed rocket.

1. Diego Provides Atleti With a Precious Away Goal

Date: 4/1/2014
Match: Barcelona v. Atletico Madrid
Stage: Quarterfinals
Ground: Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain

Arguably the most important goal of his career, this screamer from Diego put Atletico Madrid on the board first during their quarterfinal clash with Barcelona. It was an important away goal, and more to the point, and absolute beauty.

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