Falcao v Llorente: A duel between European football’s deadliest predators

One of the animal kingdom's most enduring riddles could well be settled in the Europa League final when Atletico Madrid’s ‘the tiger’ Radamel Falcao matches up against Athletic Bilbao’s ‘lion king’ Fernando Llorente.



Colombian hitman Falcao has previous history in the Europa League, top scoring last season with a record 17 goals as Porto won the trophy. After moving to Atletico for €40million (Dh191m) last summer ‘el Tigre’ has continued to show a taste for the tournament with a further 10 strikes.



He is a true poacher, not at his best when involved in build-up play, but deadly when given a sniff of blood close to goal. His less than sure footing outside of the penalty area lead to some murmurings of discontent among fans at the Estadio Vicente Calderon earlier in the season, but as the goals have racked up (33 so far in all competitions) he has won over even the most hard-bitten of colchoneros fans.



Spanish international Llorente has slightly less impressive numbers (seven in this seasons’s Europa League), but at 1.95m and 90 kg ‘El Rey Leon’s’ brings a more physical style to the contest.



As his game has evolved this season under Marcelo Bielsa, the 27-year-old often drops deep to exchange passes with his nippier team-mates, before heading for the back-post to get on the end of crosses. These extra duties have not affected his end product, with Llorente on course for his best ever goalscoring season, despite missing large chunks of the year through injury.



The all-round nature of Llorente’s game was evident against Manchester United in both last-16 legs. His movement and aggression ran Rio Ferdinand and company ragged over 180 minutes, while also scoring the crucial opening goal in each game - including a superbly guided first-time volley to all-but ensure his side’s progress at San Mames.



Then in Athletic’s tight semi-final second leg against Sporting Lisbon last month he cleverly laid on Markel Susaeta’s opener before firing in a late third.



The importance of each lethal predator to their respective side’s chances have already been shown in this season’s La Liga meetings. Llorente scored twice in October as Athletic won at San Mames, before a Falcao double helped Atletico got revenge 2-1 at the Vicente Calderon in March.



So who would win a fight between El Tigre and El Rey Leon? The tiger’s predatory instinct and sharp reactions or the lion’s intelligence and strength? Tonight’s final should settle the question forever.