Radamel Falcao on Wednesday marked his 6th and 7th goals of the season, keeping his AS Monaco side two points ahead of defending champions PSG for first place in Ligue 1.
AS Monaco sunk $77 million into the Colombian superstar during the offseason, and Falcao has now scored in every French league game this season, catapulting the Ligue 1’s newest team from the second division to first in the table.
In yesterday’s game against Bastia, it was teammate Emanuele Riviere who opened the scoring in the 38th minute, holding off a defender to slot in at the near post after a through ball from Colombia’s James Rodriguez, who found his way back into Monaco’s starting lineup after several weeks as a substitute.
Two minutes later, Falcao marked his first of the night, pouncing on a lofted ball over the back-line from Joao Moutinho and volleying a one-time rocket off the legs of the Bastia keeper.
Then just before halftime, a deflection fell at Falcao’s feet in the box, and the Colombian smashed it at the far post, with a decisive strike before the defense could recover. A predator’s goal for the player known as ‘The Tiger’, Ligue 1’s top goalscorer.
Falcao’s double was the second of the day for Colombian strikers in international soccer. Carlos Bacca also netted two, in an explosive 4-1 win for Sevilla FC over Rayo Vallecano.
With 17 points so far, Monaco will go on the road to play 10th-placed Sede de Reims this Sunday, hoping to maintain their early lead over rivals PSG.