Falcao hits hat-trick in Atletico's 4-0 rout of Bilbao
Source: Agencies |
August 29, 2012, Wednesday
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ATLETICO Madrid striker Radamel Falcao scored a hat-trick on Monday as his team thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 in the teams' first meeting since the Europa League final last season.
Falcao scored twice in the 3-0 victory in Romania in May and could have scored more at the Vicente Calderon as Bilbao continued to struggle without Spain internationals Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez, who were omitted from the squad again with their futures at the Basque club uncertain.
Atletico couldn't have asked for a better warm-up ahead of Friday's European Super Cup, which pits it against Champions League winner Chelsea and former player Fernando Torres.
"We're in good shape and we're happy and now we have to prepare for the Super Cup," said Falcao, who scored 36 goals last season. "Now I want to improve on my numbers from last season."
Falcao opened after receiving a throw-in from Filipe Luis that he carried past defender Mikel San Jose before chipping goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz for the 20th-minute opener in the Spanish league match. The Colombia striker's athleticism allowed him to meet Diego Godin's looping cross at the far post with an acrobatic volley to make it 2-0 in the 42nd. Falcao created the third as Carlos Gurpegui blocked his pass with his hand inside the area to set up a 59th-minute penalty the Atletico striker converted for his third goal.
Only Iraizoz kept Falcao from adding to the scoreline with a number of clutch stops before Tiago completed the emphatic victory.
Falcao scored twice in the 3-0 victory in Romania in May and could have scored more at the Vicente Calderon as Bilbao continued to struggle without Spain internationals Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez, who were omitted from the squad again with their futures at the Basque club uncertain.
Atletico couldn't have asked for a better warm-up ahead of Friday's European Super Cup, which pits it against Champions League winner Chelsea and former player Fernando Torres.
"We're in good shape and we're happy and now we have to prepare for the Super Cup," said Falcao, who scored 36 goals last season. "Now I want to improve on my numbers from last season."
Falcao opened after receiving a throw-in from Filipe Luis that he carried past defender Mikel San Jose before chipping goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz for the 20th-minute opener in the Spanish league match. The Colombia striker's athleticism allowed him to meet Diego Godin's looping cross at the far post with an acrobatic volley to make it 2-0 in the 42nd. Falcao created the third as Carlos Gurpegui blocked his pass with his hand inside the area to set up a 59th-minute penalty the Atletico striker converted for his third goal.
Only Iraizoz kept Falcao from adding to the scoreline with a number of clutch stops before Tiago completed the emphatic victory.
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