A DOUBLE by Colombian striker Radamel Falcao inspired Atletico Madrid to a 3-0 win over fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao today and their second Europa League trophy in three seasons.
Radamel Falcao, who led Porto to the Europa League title last season with a record 17 goals, scored two first-half goals to seal the game before Diego rounded off the win late on. Athletic Bilbao weren’t able to dominate the game early enough to affect the score line, allowing Madrid to take the early initiative.
In last season’s final, Falcao’s goal secured the Europa League title for Porto as he set a European competition record with 17 goals in the campaign before a 40 million euros ($51.73 million) move to 2010 Europa League winners Atletico.
With his double strike Wednesday the forward became the competition’s leading scorer again this season with 12.
Athletic Bilbao named seven players raised at the club for the final.
Bilbao, who only field players with a family connection to the Basque region and shun big-name signings, picked a team with an average age of 25 for their first European final since 1977.
There were no major surprises from Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa or Atletico counterpart and fellow Argentine Diego Simeone for the all-Spanish final. Bilbao went with a typically adventurous system with Markel Susaeta, Fernando Llorente and Iker Muniain in a three-man attack while Atletico had Radamel Falcao, last year’s Europa League top scorer with Porto, as their lone striker.
Bilbao struggled to play their way out of their own half for periods, such was the intensity of the Atletico pressing.
It took just seven minutes for Madrid’s early pressure to count.
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| Falcao |
Falcao was fed by a pass down the inside-right channel by Adrian and surged into the area, albeit with little in the way of support. The Bilbao defense failed to get close enough to him as he cut back on to his left foot and curved a sublime shot into the top-left corner from 15 yards out.
Bilbao did their best to come back into the game but Madrid were simply too much. Madrid pressed harder and passed cleaner. Intermittently, signs of the Bilbao side that got pulses racing throughout the competition would emerge, but at times it simply seemed as if Madrid had more players on the field.
After 34 minutes Falcao repeated his trick. A defensive error allowed Madrid to win the ball on the edge of the area before they worked the ball to Falcao on the edge of the six yard box. The Columbian twisted and turned, found a yard of space and crashed the ball high into the net.
Bilbao went into the half 2-0 behind but they shot immediately out of the blocks in the second half. Muniain forced a corner within 26 seconds of the restart after charging down the right wing and delivering a devilish cross that was nearly turned into the Atletico goal.
Bilbao had much more possession in the second half but still were unable to create many chances, with Inigo Perez’s long distance free kick being their best chance in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
As the half wore on, Madrid contented themselves with feeding on the scraps of counter attacks.
With the end drawing nearer Bilbao increased the pressure with Ibai and Oscar Martinez both missing good chances, shooting over the bar, while Markel Susaeta should have at least scored once in his two guilt-edged chances.
The harder Bilbao pushed, the more space they left in behind their defense. Falcao could have grabbed a hat trick but hit a post before Diego’s superb finish sealed the win.
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Barca, beware of Bilbao despite their loss. It will surely be hot 4 you when you face them at the Copa del Rey Final. These 'small boys' will fight like wounded lions. BEWARE!!!
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