Goals:
18′ [1 - 0] R. Falcao
45′ [1 - 1] Jonas
49′ [2 - 1] Miranda
54′ [3 - 1] Adrian
78′ [4 - 1] R. Falcao
90′ [4 - 2] R. Costa

Falcao, who scored 17 goals to help Porto win the competition last season, netted after just 17 minutes but his strike was cancelled out by Brazilian forward Jonas as the scores remained level at half-time.

But Madrid were much the better side and they moved ahead through Miranda and Adrian after the break, before Falcao scored a wonderful solo effort. The €40 million summer signing is now level with Schalke’s Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the top scorer in the main phase of this season’s Europa League, with ten goals.

Madrid looked set for an easy second leg but Ricardo Costa’s header deep into injury-time handed Valencia a lifeline. However, La Liga’s third-placed side still have plenty to do when they host Atletico at the Mestalla.

Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon, the only team that can prevent an all-Spanish final in Bucharest on May 8, fought back from a goal down to beat Manchester United’s conquerors Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Athletic, looking for their first major trophy since 1984, took a 54th-minute lead through Jon Aurtenetxe but Sporting drew level through Emiliano Insua before the impressive Diego Capel – a Spain international – drilled home the match-winner ten minutes from time to down his countrymen.

The Portuguese outfit pushed hard for a third goal late on but Athletic managed to keep them out to leave the tie firmly in the balance ahead of next week’s second leg in the Basque country.

Goals:
24′ [1 - 0] E. Salvio
27′ [2 - 0] E. Salvio
37′ [3 - 0] Adrian
53′ [3 - 1] Simao

Sevilla

The visitors went ahead through Eduardo Salvio in the ninth minute. Salvio headed a cross from Gabi to beat goalkeeper Andres Palop.

Papa Babacar Diawara equalized for Sevilla in the 53rd minute. From the middle of the penalty box, Baba finished a pass from Jesus Navas to beat Thibaut Courtois with a right foot shot.

According to Soccernet, Sevilla had ball possession as much as 59 percent and created five chances out of 20 efforts. As for Atletico they made six shots on target from nine attempts.

Sevilla: Andres Palop; Julien Escude, Emir Spahic (Federico Julián Fazio 57), Fernando Navarro, Coke Andujar; Gary Medel, Ivan Rakitic (Piotr Trochowski  57), Jose Antonio Reyes. Jesus Navas; Papa Babacar Diawara (Manu Del Moral  74), Frederic Kanoute

Atletico: Thibaut Courtois; Alvaro Dominguez Soto, Miranda, Filipe Kasmirski, Fransisco Juanfran (Luis Amaranto Perea 90); Tiago (Pizzi 81), Mario Suarez, Koke, Eduardo Salvio; Adrian, Gabi

Refferee: Alvarez Izquierdo

Chelsea

Chelsea had sent representatives to monitor the performance of the 25-year-old attacker for three months, and it seems like the movement made by the Blues was driven by the desire of Andre Villas-Boas who had worked with the Colombian striker when he was at Porto.

As reported by The Daily Star, Chelsea wants to end the bad performance of Torres since brought from Liverpool by way of sending him to his former club and trade him with Falcao.

The Spain international striker, so far only managed to score three goals in the Premier League since moving to Stamford Bridge. The plan to send Torres back to Spain is considered the best way to reinvent his performance.

Meanwhile, Falcao had no problems since he left Portugal to the join La Liga with Atletico last summer, where he has scored 62 goals in 72 matches since leaving River Plate in 2009.

When working with AVB at Porto, the Colombian striker scored 33 goals from 36 appearances, including 17 goals from 14 games in the Europa League as Porto became champions and entered him into the new list of top scorer in European competition. Falcao also has collected 17 goals from 25 appearances for Atletico.

The Vicente Calderon outfit find themselves in 11th place in La Liga having only secured three victories so far this campaign.

Despite pressure building on coach Gregorio Manzano, the South American attacker feels his side can improve.

“The players are the most responsible. Together, we must look for solutions, not blame,” the 25-year-old told AS.

“These things happen in the world of football, now we must move forward and not dwell on regret.”

Atletico host high-flying Levante in their first game after the international break and will look for three points to begin climbing the table.

source: goal

Real Zaragoza

The Portugal international cost Atletico €5 million last week, and though he joined the club together with €40m signing Radamel Falcao, he will not be given a single chance to prove his worth at the Vicente Calderon.

The 24-year-old will be presented by Zaragoza on Tuesday afternoon, becoming the club’s ninth signing of the transfer window.

Micael, who has three international caps to his name, joined Porto from CD Nacional in January of 2010 but failed to impose himself at the Estadio do Dragao during his stay.

Although they just signed Arda Turan, Atletico still wants to add depth to their squad with the presence of Diego. The Brazilian 26-year-old player had been allowed to leave Wolfsburg by Felix Magath after a series of disciplinary problems.

Wolfsburg themselves had said that they would only release Diego at the right price.

Atletico Madrid

Turan, a 24-year-old Turkey international, has agreed a four-year contract with Atletico and will cost an initial €12 million rising to €13 million, according to a statement on the Galatasaray website.

A statement on the Atletico website confirmed: ”Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray have closed an agreement for the transfer of playmaker Arda Turan.

”Arda Turan will undergo his medical on Friday morning and will be presented on Tuesday, August 16 as a new Atletico Madrid player.”