The Europa League kicked off again this week, and you just knew that Falcao would celebrate with a couple of goals.
Atlético Madrid were impressive in Italy on Thursday as they came from behind in impressive style to establish a convincing advantage over Lazio.
Falcoa, who won the Europa League withPorto last season, scored in each half after Adrián López had cancelled out Miroslav Klose’s 19th-minute opener. It leaves the Serie A side with a mountain to climb in Madrid next week if they are to reach the last 16.
It was an emotional return for Atlético coach Diego Simeone, who was handed a pennant by his former club in recognition of his services as a player, to the acclaim of the home crowd. The home crowd were almost silenced within a minute of kick-off, though, when Koke muscled his way past Matuzalem before playing in Falcao to blaze over from a tight angle.
The visitors made all the early running, yet it was Lazio who took the lead when Thibaut Courtois fumbled a routine long shot by Antonio Candreva and Klose reacted first to the rebound. It was hard on Simeone’s side but it took them just six minutes to level. Falcao outjumped Giuseppe Biava to head Juanfran’s deep right-wing cross into the path of Adrián, who volleyed in from close range.
Atletico deservedly took the lead on 37 minutes in some style. Adrián’s back-heeled flick was controlled in a tight space by Diego, whose centre through a crowded area found Falcao lurking at the far post to fire in.
Lazio tried to up their tempo thereafter, Hernanes, Lazio’s best player, mistiming both a header and a shot, but they had no answer to the rapid interplay of the 2010 winners, who extended their lead on 63 minutes with a rapier counterattack. Adrián raced down the right before picking out Falcao for his fifth strike of the campaign, and his 22nd Europa League goal.
The question is can they afford them?
Inter should buy Leandro Damiao and Ganzo to win the competition and grab all title