Thursday, 12 December 2013

Ronaldo's gravity defying leap, snow chaos in Istanbul and smoke smothered Pilsen... our Champions League week six picture special

Playing under the lights always adds an extra layer of drama to proceedings and the Champions League is traditionally a good hunting ground for brilliant football photos.
During the past couple of days there have been several superb shots taken and we've pulled together our favourites below. Enjoy them at your leisure.
 
Superman: FC Copenhagen players can only stand and watch as the almost super-human Cristiano Ronaldo leaps up to head the ball
Superman: FC Copenhagen players can only stand and watch as the almost super-human Cristiano Ronaldo leaps up to head the ball

What is this? Paul Pogba gesticulates in the snow-storm, after Juventus suffered defeat during the rescheduled game against Galatasaray
What is this? Paul Pogba gesticulates in the snow-storm, after Juventus suffered defeat during the rescheduled game against Galatasaray

Touch the sky: James Milner points to the heavens after scoring what proved to be the winner during Manchester City's amazing comeback against Bayern Munich
Touch the sky: James Milner points to the heavens after scoring what proved to be the winner during Manchester City's amazing comeback against Bayern Munich

Hat-trick hero: Neymar celebrates bagging his third goal during Barcelona's demolition of Celtic on Wednesday night
Hat-trick hero: Neymar celebrates bagging his third goal during Barcelona's demolition of Celtic on Wednesday night

Muck: A Juventus player kicks the ball during the clash against Galatasaray at the TT Arena Stadium in Istanbul, kicking up ice and mud on a tricky surface
Muck: A Juventus player kicks the ball during the clash against Galatasaray at the TT Arena Stadium in Istanbul, kicking up ice and mud on a tricky surface

Through the mist: CSKA Moscow's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev peers into the fog of smoke left by flares during their game in Pilsen (Czech Rep.), against Viktoria Plzen
Through the mist: CSKA Moscow's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev peers into the fog of smoke left by flares during their game in Pilsen (Czech Rep.), against Viktoria Plzen

On your bike: Demba Ba's attempted bicycle kick is foiled by the brave goalkeeping of Ciprian Tatarusanu, of FC Steaua Bucharest
On your bike: Demba Ba's attempted bicycle kick is foiled by the brave goalkeeping of Ciprian Tatarusanu, of FC Steaua Bucharest

Ploughed: Shinji Kagawa is crashed into by Shakhtar Donetsk's Yaroslav Rakitskiy, as he attempts a shot on goal during their Champions League encounter
Ploughed: Shinji Kagawa is crashed into by Shakhtar Donetsk's Yaroslav Rakitskiy, as he attempts a shot on goal during their Champions League encounter

Loving it: Galatasaray players slide in to greet their adulating fans after they turned over Italian giants Juventus, despite the inclement weather
Loving it: Galatasaray players slide in to greet their adulating fans after they turned over Italian giants Juventus, despite the inclement weather
Triumphant: Borussia Dortmund players celebrate after beating Marseilles 2-1 away from home and qualifying top of the group for the Champions League last 16
Triumphant: Borussia Dortmund players celebrate after beating Marseilles 2-1 away from home and qualifying top of the group for the Champions League last 16

At full stretch: Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer flings himself into the air to tip a shot from Schalke 04 over the crossbar, but he couldn't prevent the Germans from winning the match or qualifying at the Swiss side's expense
At full stretch: Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer flings himself into the air to tip a shot from Schalke 04 over the crossbar, but he couldn't prevent the Germans from winning the match or qualifying at the Swiss side's expense

Loving it: Bayer Leverkusen players celebrate with their supporters after beating Real Sociedad 1-0 at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian, and qualifying for the Champions League last 16
Loving it: Bayer Leverkusen players celebrate with their supporters after beating Real Sociedad 1-0 at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian, and qualifying for the Champions League last 16

Stormtroopers: Italian policemen stand guard after the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and AFC Ajax Amsterdam in Milan, outside the San Siro
Stormtroopers: Italian policemen stand guard after the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and AFC Ajax Amsterdam in Milan, outside the San Siro
Respect: Marseille supporters hold a banner in tribute to Nelson Mandela before the match against Borussia Dortmund at the Velodrome stadium
Respect: Marseille supporters hold a banner in tribute to Nelson Mandela before the match against Borussia Dortmund at the Velodrome stadium