Falcao lives up to his namesake

Falcao, a Colombian striker known by a Brazilian name, once studied to be a journalist in Argentina. Instead of writing about the game, however, he is playing a key role for FC Porto this season and scored the winner against Arsenal FC in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie.

Porto travel to London on Tuesday holding a 2-1 lead and hoping not to repeat the 1-0 defeat by Chelsea FC they suffered when they visited the English capital in the group stage. The Stamford Bridge encounter was Falcao's UEFA Champions League debut following his arrival from CA River Plate and he has quickly taken to the competition. His opportunist goal from a quickly-taken free-kick against Arsenal was his fourth in the competition, leaving him trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo in the scoring chart.

"I had the happiness of scoring a goal that gave Porto victory, so that was a beautiful experience in my sporting career," Falcao said, before looking ahead to the return. "Arsenal are always going to be the favourites, I think, but at this stage of the Champions League the matches are really closely contested. We are conscious of the team we have and of the capabilities of our squad and we have a strong desire and conviction we can go through to the next round."

While fortune favoured Porto in the first leg at the Estádio do Dragão, things have not been going their way in the Portuguese Liga this season. They were trailing lowly SC Olhanense 2-0 on Saturday before Falcao's 80th-minute strike sparked a recovery, and though they were able to rally to earn a point, they are nine adrift of leaders SL Benfica in third and with a real fight on their hands just to return to the UEFA Champions League next season.

The 24-year-old Radamel García, better known by his football-inspired middle name, has done everything he can to ensure they do. The departures of Lisandro and Lucho in the summer left some big shoes to fill and Falco has risen to the challenge, scoring 24 goals already. He certainly feels at home, even saying the food in Portugal is the same as in Colombia. "I was impressed by my adaptation to Portuguese football and also European football," Falcao said.

"That has a lot to do with the togetherness of the squad and the trust the technical staff as well as my colleagues have in me. That has allowed me to play freely and feel comfortable. So I didn't upset the tactical balance of a team that has been playing together for the last four years. They know each other really well and that has allowed me to fit in  quickly."

However, Falcao does believe there is a contrast between European and South American football. "It is different – I am not sure there is a great difference but yes there is a great difference in the style of play," he said. "South American and Argentinian football, where I was playing, is very gritty and very strong and with a lot of intensity but I am very happy with the football here so I think I came to the right place."

A journalism student for a year in Buenos Aires prior to signing a professional contract with River Plate, Falcao has always kept an eye on European football and the UEFA Champions League in particular. "I always followed it and I think it's the most watched tournament in the world," he said. "I was dreaming of it as recently as ten months ago, before I came to Porto. I was watching it last season, so yes I dreamt of playing in it." Now he will be hoping that dream continues to the quarter-finals at least.