Álvaro Morata Gives A Master Class In Finishing

Chelsea striker Álvaro Morata notched a hat trick in the Blues’ 4-0 dismantling of Stoke City yesterday, continuing to prove why he was one of the most sought-after signings of the summer. Morata’s goals at the Britannia Stadium weren’t stunners, but each was a beautiful showcase of skill and finesse. Here’s the first one:

Of course, most high-quality strikers would be expected to finish with space like that, but check out the way Morata bounces the ball over the sliding keeper instead of just trying to smash it forward. It’s not flashy, but it’s an intelligent, perfectly accurate finish.

The next goal Morata scored, though, is just breathtaking. With the ball at his feet, he’s still quicker than the Stoke defense, and though he maneuvers himself into a bit of a tricky angle, he flips it over the keeper like he’s on the training ground.

On Morata’s third goal, admittedly, he didn’t do as much work, just tapping in a Cesar Azpilcueta header with the slightest of sliding touches. But that’s OK—Morata still more than earned his hat trick., and at only age 24, we can expect to see plenty more of these goals in his future.