Radamel Falcao scored five goals on Sunday as Atletico Madrid thrashed Deportivo La Coruna 6-0 to stay within touching distance of La Liga leader Barcelona, which won2-1 away to Real Betis. Barca remains six points ahead of second-place Atletico, with Real Madrid a further five points behind their city rival, despite winning 3-2 away to Real Valladolid.

Falcao became the first player in La Liga to score five goals in one game in more than a decade. The last player to achieve the feat was former Real Madrid stirker FernandoMorientes, who put five past Las Palmas in February 2002.  

“I scored five in a game when I was little in Bogota, and I got four playing for Porto against Villarreal but neverfive as a professional,” Falcao said after the match. The 26-year-old Colombian is now second in the La Liga scoring chart with 16, seven behind Barca forward Lionel Messi, and threeahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

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