La Liga: Falcao's Late Goal Keeps Rayo Vallecano In Winning Form Against Athletic Bilbao

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao scored a 96th-minute goal to give Rayo Vallecano a second consecutive win in La Liga, stunning Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.

The Colombian header gave the newly-promoted side are now unbeaten in four matches in the 2021-22 campaign.

Falcao, nicknamed El Tigre and a legend of Colombian football, joined Rayo on a free transfer this summer in a move that raised many eyebrows indeed.

On his return, his first warning sign to La Liga was his goal against Getafe in the 81st minute to secure all three points for Vallecano.

His final La Liga game played in June 2013 when he was forced to leave against his will, but it is hard to do justice to just how good Falcao was when he was last in Spain, kickstarting this entire Atlético era. 

How popular he was: gentle, quiet, a hint of humility even shyness in that smile contrasting with the single-mindedness of his ambition, the determination that has staff describing a man steadily disappearing into a zone of his own as matches approach.

Joining Atletico Madrid from Porto in the summer of 2011, he went ahead to score 52 goals in 62 appearances for Colchoneros.

He led Atletico Madrid to Europa League and Super Cup victories in 2012. Falcao finished as a top goalscorer for the second straight year and became the first player to win consecutive Europa League titles with two teams.

Rayo welcome Cadiz to Vallecas this Sunday.