Uefa Super Cup: Atlético Madrid v Chelsea full-time report

Radamel Falcao

Atlético Madrid 4 Chelsea 1

Atlético Madrid’s Super Cup triumph over Chelsea was all down to one man.

Radamel Falcao on Monday night scored a hat-trick in Atlético’s 4-0 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao, and tonight, he struck a second hat-trick, this time against Chelsea, to secure the Super Cup for his side following a devastating display from the Spanish outfit.

The winners of the Europa League were the far superior team, putting the Champions League holders Chelsea to the sword and dominating the match from start to finish.

The last time Chelsea played in Europe, they defeated Bayern Munich on penalties to be crowned Champions League winners. For manager Roberto Di Matteo, it was his greatest achievement, but his experience tonight was one he will want to forget about in a hurry.

Diego Simeone in the opposition dugout has got this Atlético team firing on all cylinders, and it helps when he has someone like Falcao in his side.

Falcao didn’t take long to get on the score sheet tonight, striking in the sixth minute by brilliantly dinking the ball over Petr Čech.

After only 20 minutes, the Colombian was already on a hat-trick, as with his weaker left foot he superbly curled the ball beyond Čech into the top corner to double Atlético’s lead.

Falcao though wasn’t to be denied, and he sealed the hat-trick on the stroke of half-time after being set up by Turkish international Arda Turan. Atlético’s fourth came when João Miranda bundled in the ball of Gary Cahill after some sloppy Chelsea defending.

Cahill scored a consolation goal for Chelsea, slamming the ball home to give Chelsea something to shout about on the night.

The performance from Chelsea was a poor one, which was surprising given they are currently top of the Premier League with a 100% record.

Atlético began the game on the front foot, and they created the first opportunity of the game, with the dangerous Falcao hitting the crossbar after Filipe Luis from left back picked him out with a great cross.

A few moments later, it was Luis once again down the left causing problems, but this time his pass to Arda wasn’t quite the one the latter wanted.

It was all Atlético, and Falcao, one of the world’s greatest finishers, lived up to his billing by superbly giving his side the lead, keeping his cool and beating Čech by chipping the ball over him to keep up his fine start to the new season.

When it comes to a striker like Falcao, you cannot give them time and space, because if you do, you will be punished, and that was exactly what happened when the Chelsea defence allowed him to turn onto his left foot and pick his spot in the top corner to get his and Atlético’s second of the encounter.

Chelsea had no response to what had hit them, and if it wasn’t for Čech it would have been three. Atlético captain Gabi was on the end of a sweeping counter attack from the Spanish side, and Čech had to be out quickly to deny the ball going past him for a third time this evening.

Falcao should have had another hat-trick 10 minutes before the break. Arda broke clear, picked out Adrián López at the far post, but while he fluffed his lines and missed an open goal, the rebound bounced up kindly for Falcao, who hit the post and saw his effort scramble to safety.

Chelsea hadn’t conjured up anything, and they didn’t come close to. Instead, they were on the back foot, and couldn’t deny Falcao from getting his hat-trick, with the in-form striker receiving Arda’s pass and making no mistake with the finish to find the back of the net once again.

Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea but given permission to play tonight in the Atlético goal, had nothing to do in terms of saves, and though ex-Atlético striker Fernando Torres registered an effort at goal, it was one that didn’t require Courtois to work hard as it went wide of the target.

It seemed as though every time Atlético moved forward, they were going to score, and a fourth goal came courtesy of João Miranda after Chelsea failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Chelsea with their confidence shattered managed to get a goal, albeit a consolation one. Cahill rifled in a close range effort to put a small smile on his face, although it wasn’t going to affect the result. David Luiz hit the post, but at the wrong end as he nearly handed goal number five to Atlético.

The night though belonged to one man thanks to his double hat-trick in the space of four days.

İsmail Vedat

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