The Colombian struck twice in the first half and Diego added another late in the second to seal the trophy against a hapless Athletic Bilbao.
Falcao scored twice and Diego scored another as Atletico Madrid won the Europa League by trouncing Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the all-Spanish final in front of over 52,000 fans at the National Arena in Bucharest on Wednesday.
Falcao's first goal arrived as early as in the 7th minute, and he doubled Atletico's lead in the 34th minute. Brazilian playmaker Diego sealed the win five minutes from full-time.
Atletico proved far superior to their opponents, with a comprehensive display, as they captured their second title in three seasons, after having beaten Fulham 2-1 in the final of the 2009-10 Europa League.
Falcao, who was the clear man-of-the-match, won consecutive trophies with two different clubs, as it was his winning goal that gave FC Porto the title against Sporting Braga last year.
With twelve goals the Colombian international also topped the scoring charts for the second consecutive year. Last year he scored a record 17 goals for Porto.
Diego Simeone, the Argentine coach of Atletico Madrid has now won the competition both as a coach and as a player, as he had claimed the trophy with Inter Milan in 1998.
Meanwhile, his counterpart Marcelo Bielsa could never get his side playing the kind of soccer that he would have liked, but they still left the field with their heads held up high after a marvellous campaign.
Athletic Bilbao still have the opportunity to win a title this season, as they face Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey on May 25. The game will be staged at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium.
Falcao's first goal arrived as early as in the 7th minute, and he doubled Atletico's lead in the 34th minute. Brazilian playmaker Diego sealed the win five minutes from full-time.
Atletico proved far superior to their opponents, with a comprehensive display, as they captured their second title in three seasons, after having beaten Fulham 2-1 in the final of the 2009-10 Europa League.
Falcao, who was the clear man-of-the-match, won consecutive trophies with two different clubs, as it was his winning goal that gave FC Porto the title against Sporting Braga last year.
With twelve goals the Colombian international also topped the scoring charts for the second consecutive year. Last year he scored a record 17 goals for Porto.
Diego Simeone, the Argentine coach of Atletico Madrid has now won the competition both as a coach and as a player, as he had claimed the trophy with Inter Milan in 1998.
Meanwhile, his counterpart Marcelo Bielsa could never get his side playing the kind of soccer that he would have liked, but they still left the field with their heads held up high after a marvellous campaign.
Athletic Bilbao still have the opportunity to win a title this season, as they face Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey on May 25. The game will be staged at Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium.
