From Bayern v Arsenal comes the best example of crossing runs you could ever hope to see. The first goal, from Toni Kroos, is great - but pay attention to the second. Watch how Claudio Pizarro runs from left to right in the penalty box, dragging Per Mertesacker with him and opening space for Thomas Muller to slip into the vacated space and head home.
It's important to understand that Pizarro was intentionally running away from the danger area in front of goal and was not expecting the ball to come to him. He is making a decoy run, looking to open space for a teammate. Why not just stay there himself and wait for the ball? Because he was stationary, and marked by the (very tall) Mertesacker. He wasn't dangerous, and he knew it - so he did something about it.
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