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Europa League, final

Atlético Madrid 3 - Athletic Bilbao 0

Atlético Madrid are the Europa League champions for the second time in three years after they beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the all Spanish final in Bucharest! Simeone's side got the better of their opponents early on, Adrián heading wide before Falcao picked up the ball on the right of the area and made himself space to curl a shot inside Iraizoz's far post. Llorente went close a couple of times and Muniain brought a good save out of Courtois, but with ten minutes to go to the break Falcao got his second of the evening, picking up Turan's cross and leaving Aurtenetxe for dead with a quick change of direction before shooting wide of the keeper once again. After the restart Athletic tried their best, Courtois saving again from Ibai Gómez and Llorente, Toquero and Susaeta all having efforts blocked. But Falcao was inches away from completing a hat-trick when he got free only to hit the post, and with five minutes to go Diego ran through to add a third with an angled shot past Iraizoz. A great disappointment for the Basque side after eliminating the likes of Manchester United and Schalke, but experience came through in the end, and Falcao in particular took the credits after finishing top scorer in the competition for the second season in a row. (09.05.12)