Top 10 Goals from Around the World This Weekend

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The second weekend of April saw a number of interesting results in the title races across Europe.

Leicester City closed in on a fairytale Premier League title triumph with a 2-0 win away to Sunderland, while Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga was cut after they lost away to Real Sociedad on the same day both Real and Atletico Madrid won their fixtures.

In Italy, Juventus' hopes of a fifth consecutive Serie A title were boosted by a 2-1 win away to AC Milan, while Napoli stayed in touch with a 3-0 win over Verona.

As ever, there were plenty of eye-catching goals across leagues and elsewhere. Read on to check out our top 10.

Our first goal comes from the relatively low-key surroundings of the Northern League Division Two, where South Shields won 3-0 away to Tow Law Town on Saturday.

An otherwise unremarkable fixture was brought to the world's attention by a stunning goal from Warren Byrne.

South Shields led 2-0 shortly into the second half, when a Tow Law clearance fell to Byrne on the edge of the box. The midfielder controlled the ball with his first touch, flicked it over his shoulder with his second and hit a brilliant left-footed volley into the far corner with his third.

It was a goal reminiscent of Dele Alli's strike against Crystal Palace in the Premier League in January—and deserves almost as much fanfare.

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James Rodriguez earned some temporary relief from his critics on Saturday with a well-taken free-kick in Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Eibar on Saturday.

It was the Colombian who started the rout in the fifth minute when he stepped up and struck an accurate free-kick with enough pace to beat the visiting goalkeeper at his covered post.

Real added three more goals in the second half, but it was James who provided the pick of the bunch.

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Shinji Kagawa, Schalke vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND

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Schalke and Borussia Dortmund shared a 2-2 draw in the Revierderby on Sunday, with former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa providing the highlight.

The scores were locked at 0-0 four minutes into the second half, when Kagawa played a neat one-two with Moritz Leitner on the edge of the Schalke box and lofted an exquisite first-time chip ^[5] over the goalkeeper and into the net.

The action picked up from there, with the local rivals going on to share two goals each in an entertaining draw.

Tranquillo Barnetta hit the winning goal in Philadelphia Union's 2-1 win over Orlando City on Friday, and he did it in some style.

The match seemed destined for a draw when Barnetta lined up a free-kick in the 90th minute, but his brilliant hit left the goalkeeper helpless as it found the underside of the crossbar on its way into the net.

The three points moved Philadelphia up to second in the Eastern Conference, level on points with leaders Montreal Impact.

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Hatem Ben Arfa continued his fine season with all the goals in Nice's 3-0 win at home to Rennes on Sunday.

The former Newcastle United forward scored a cracker in Nice's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week, and his shooting boots were with him once again, as he hit his 14th, 15th and 16th league goals of the season.

No. 3 was by far the pick of the hat-trick, as he drove at Rennes' hesitant defence and cracked a powerful shot ^[8] across the goalkeeper from just outside the box.

Pako Ayestaran claimed his first win at Valencia on Sunday as Valencia beat Sevilla at the Mestalla to ease their La Liga relegation fears.

Dani Parejo put the home side ahead after 41 minutes when he struck a fierce free-kick over the wall and past the goalkeeper from around 25 yards.

Kevin Gameiro looked to have snatched a point for the visitors with an 86th-minute equaliser, but Alvaro Negredo secured the three points for Valencia with a 91st-minute winner.

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Abdenasser El Khayati hit a brilliant last-minute winner in Queens Park Rangers' 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

The Championship match appeared to be heading for a draw after Jordan Cousins cancelled out Matt Phillips' first-half opener, until El Khayati pinched the points with his late intervention.

Receiving the ball to the left of the opposition penalty box with time fast running out, El Khayati dribbled his way into the area and placed a precise strike that arched over the goalkeeper on its way into the far top corner.

A worthy match-winner if ever there was one.

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Liga MX leaders Monterrey thrashed the visiting Chiapas 6-0 on Saturday night, a comprehensive victory that was capped off by a fantastic strike from Walter Ayovi.

The match was little over an hour old when Ayovi attacked the Chiapas box from the left-hand side. When no defender rushed to close him down, the Ecuadorian midfielder threw caution to the wind and let fly with a rocket strike that thundered into the top corner.

The six-goal win ensures Monterrey maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table.

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Rangers can add the Scottish Challenge Cup to the Scottish Championship they secured on Tuesday after a 4-0 win over Peterhead in Sunday's final.

James Tavernier's brilliant strike was the pick of the lot, as he found the top corner ^[15] with a stinging 25-yard volley five minutes before half-time.

Never a bad idea to save your best hit for a cup final.

Derby County sentenced Bolton Wanderers to League One football with an emphatic 4-1 win at Pride Park on Saturday.

Johnny Russell put the Rams ahead after just 13 minutes, and what a goal it was.

With the ball bouncing invitingly for him some 30 yards from goal, Russell took aim and hit a stunning effort on the turn that flew past Ben Amos in the Bolton goal.

Russell scored again in the second half as Derby moved above Sheffield Wednesday into fifth in the Championship.

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