'Tiger' Falcao feasts on Real Sociedad
Reuters - Saturday 21 January 2012, 23:23
Colombia striker Radamel
Falcao scored a hat-trick and helped Atletico Madrid to their
first away win of the season, in a 4-0 victory at Real Sociedad
in La Liga on Saturday.
Falcao, known as 'El Tigre', scored from the
penalty spot, with a superb lob and wrapped up the scoring to
earn Diego Simeone's team the three points in an impressive
display in San Sebastian.
The result left Atletico on the brink of the European places
in La Liga in seventh with 26 points from 19 games.
Earlier, Espanyol climbed to fifth on 28 points with a 3-0
home win over Granada thanks to goals from Raul Baena, Joan
Verdu from the penalty spot and Rui Fonte.
They were two points ahead of Bilbao, Atletico and Sevilla,
who held on for a 1-1 draw in the city derby at Real Betis
despite playing the last 20 minutes with 10 men.
Elsewhere, Getafe came from behind to beat struggling Racing
Santander 2-1 away.
Atletico striker Falcao opened the scoring from the penalty
spot after only two minutes at a rain-soaked Anoeta and Spanish
youth international Adrian doubled the lead early in the second
half after a well-worked move.
Falcao saved his best until the 82nd minute, a lob from
outside the area leaving home goalkeeper Claudio Bravo stranded, and
he notched his 14th of the campaign at the end from Koke's
pull-back.
The first Seville derby in three years looked to be heading
the way of promoted Betis when midfielder Benat curled a
freekick over the wall in the 26th minute.
Sevilla drew level just before the break when striker Alvaro
Negredo headed in from a Jesus Navas cross, and although they
lost defender Federico Fazio to a harsh second yellow card in
the 70th minute they held firm.
The result failed to lift the pressure on under-fire Sevilla
coach Marcelino, however, as they extended their winless run to
five games.