Chelsea flops Radamel Falcao and Alexandre Pato go head-to-head in Champions League play-off
Monaco v Villarreal sees once feared strikers battle it out — with both enduring horror campaigns in Premier League
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IT’S battle of the Chelsea flops as Villarreal host Monaco in the Champions League play-offs tonight.
Alexandre Pato against Radamel Falcao would have been a clash of Europe’s hottest strikers five years ago.
But, now, the pair a shadow of their former selves.
Or, in Pato’s case, he casts a shadow over his former self.
In the height of irony, the two flops who contributed hardly anything to a season which saw Chelsea miss out on Champions League football, will now meet in it.
Villarreal were sensational last season as they finished as the best of the rest in La Liga — behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico.
And reached the Europa League semi-finals only to lose to Liverpool.
However, they are in disarray this season after manager, Marcelino, stepped down and ex-Tottenham striker, Roberto Soldado, was struck down with a serious knee injury.
It means summer signing Pato is only recognised striker available to the Yellow Submarine.
Monaco, meanwhile, finished last season in third place — level on points with runners up, Lyon.
However, they were a staggering 31 points behind runaway leaders, Paris Saint-Germain.
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Incidentally, Monaco were closer to relegation despite finishing third, as they ended the campaign only 26 points clear of 18th-placed, Stade de Reims.
Villarreal decided to give Pato a chance after his disastrous spell at Chelsea.
The Brazilian moved to Stamford Bridge in January, but was deemed overweight and featured just twice under Guus Hiddink.
He moved to AC Milan in 2007 at the age of 17 and was billed as star of the future.
Pato was sensational at the beginning of the 2009-10 campaign, but his season dipped so much, he was omitted from Brazil’s World Cup squad that summer.
Injuries appeared to take their toll and his performances were extremely inconsistent.
He moved to Brazil in 2014 where he tried to revive his career.
Still just 26, Villarreal will be hopeful there is some chance of seeing the best of him yet.
After all, they managed to get Spurs flop, Soldado, firing.
Falcao, meanwhile, was one of the most potent strikers in the world at Atletico in 2012.
He scored a Europa League-winning goals in back-to-back finals — the first with Porto — and a hat-trick against Chelsea in the Uefa Super Cup which ensued.
The Colombian moved to Monaco and suffered a devastating knee injury.
Once recovered, Manchester United took a punt on him, but it didn’t work out.
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Jose Mourinho believed he could turn Falcao’s career around — but he scored just one goal.
His form seems to have improved back at Monaco netting both legs against Fenerbahce in the last round.
Falcao v Pato — a battle between two of Europe’s best strikers.
Just a few years too late.