Scoring a fantastic goal when your team’s getting thrashed is one of the most bittersweet feelings for a footballer.
Olivier Giroud must have been delighted on a personal level after his acrobatic effort at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night, before being brought crashing down to earth when he looked up at the scoreboard to see Bayern Munich still 4-1 up.
Here are some other very memorable goals during less-than-memorable results.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar – Schalke v Real Madrid
Schalke almost staged an unlikely comeback against Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League, and if they’d made it through they’d have done it in style.
Leroy Sane had already scored a pearler when Huntelaar absolutely rifled in a volley from the edge of the box.
It was too little, too late, though, as the Germans went out 5-4 on aggregate.
Daniele De Rossi – Roma v Man Utd
There were plenty of great goals scored when Roma travelled to Old Trafford in the 2006/07 Champions League.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had lost the first leg 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico, but were four to the good by half-time in the return leg en route to a 7-1 win.
You could have forgiven the visitors for giving up, but Daniele De Rossi has never been lacking in pride…or ability to produce a tidy finish.
Elano v Middlesbrough
Manchester City’s 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough spelled the end for then-manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and a number of their first-teamers, but few remember Elano’s effort in that match.
The Brazilian beat a couple of defenders before firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Admittedly the Boro back line might have been relaxing a bit, what with them having a 7-0 lead at the time.
Matt Phillips – QPR v Crystal Palace
Chris Ramsey couldn’t keep QPR in the Premier League last season, despite the occasional moments of magic from the likes of Phillips.
The Scottish winger found the back of the net from more than 40 yards at Selhurst Park.
The only problem? It reduced Crystal Palace’s lead to 3-1 with seven minutes left.
Salomon Kalou – Lille v Bayern Munich
Kalou didn’t score enough in his time at Chelsea, in the opinion of many fans.
He changed that in France, scoring at a rate of almost one goal every two games, but it’s likely that the former Chelsea man’s best strike was also his most meaningless.
A fantastic left-footed drive into the top corner, bouncing in off the bar, is always better when you’re not 5-0 down. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t inspire a comeback.
Dean Ashton – West Ham United v Manchester United
What is it about volleys against Man Utd?
Dean Ashton was a great player before injury curtailed his career, and the one-cap England international scored some great goals in his time.
An acrobatic overhead kick might have been the best of them all – just a shame it was in a 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford.
