Champions League Last Sixteen – Goal Of The Round (Video)

Well that was pretty eventful wouldn’t you say? The 2008/2009 Champions League last sixteen provided great drama, embarrassment for Real Madrid, further shame for Sporting Lisbon who conceded almost as many goals over two legs as there were minutes, a clean sweep for English clubs and an impressive total of 45 goals.

With so many goals scored we thought we would pore over them all and decide on our favourite. So, having ploughed through all forty-five of them, and there are some great ones, we present to you below our Champions League last sixteen goal of the round.

The choice was tough. Lionel Messi’s individual piece of magic against Lyon was up there. Giorgos Karagounis‘ stunning long range strike for Panathinaikos against Villarreal also impressed. And it was hard to ignore Lukas Podolski’s left foot pile-driver against Sporting Lisbon at the Allianz Arena.

But in the end there could only be one, and we have gone for Juninho Pernambucano’s dazzling, mystifyingly brilliant free-kick for Olympique Lyonnais in their 1-1 first leg draw with FC Barcelona.

Admittedly, the decision was in part clouded by our own sense of compassion for Juninho. Sent off in the dying moments of Lyon’s 5-2 defeat to Barca at the Camp Nou and at 34 years of age, as he trudged off the pitch there emerged almost a feeling of finality about the Brazilian’s Champions League career. Certainly his chances of ever lifting the trophy look more remote now than ever before. So as tribute to a player who for many years has lit up the European stage with his vast array of incisive passes, faultless technique and, of course, incredible ability to hit a free-kick, we present to you one of his finest ever European goals. Enjoy.

Breaking it down by nationality the quarter-finals will now consist of four English teams, two Spanish, one German and one Portuguese. Here is a list of the final eight:

Arsenal
FC Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Chelsea
Liverpool
Manchester United
FC Porto
Villarreal

The draw will take place on Friday 20th March.

Agree with our pick for best goal of the last sixteen? Which of the last eight do you think will make it to Rome? Let us know, leave a comment.

Champions League, Great Goals, Juninho Pernambucano, Olympique Lyonnais