2012 Super Cup: Falcao blows Chelsea away

Chelsea 1-4 Atlético Madrid
(Cahill 75; Falcao 6, 19, 45, Miranda 60)

European champions Chelsea had no answer to the brilliance of Falcao after the Colombian striker hit a superb hat-trick to help Atlético Madrid to a second UEFA Super Cup in three years in the final edition of the game in Monaco.

Chelsea were in dreamland three months earlier as they won the European Cup for the first time, but could not follow up with a second piece of continental silverware after Falcao struck a treble before half-time in the principality.

Gabi hoists the 2012 Super Cup in MonacoGetty Images

If the game was not over then, the Mattress Makers put Chelsea to bed on the hour as Miranda clipped the fourth over Petr Čech from close range. With 15 minutes left Gary Cahill poked in what proved to be the final UEFA Super Cup goal to be scored at the Stade Louis II 15 years after the Blues became the first club to lift the trophy there.

Atlético coach Diego Simeone summed up what most observers in Monaco thought of Falcao's performance when he said: "I'm speechless. I really can't describe it. What he is doing is indescribable. He's a lad that whenever you set the bar high he sets it higher and rises to the occasion."

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo added: "We said before that he is one of the top strikers in European football and he showed it again with the second goal, which was a very good strike."