Simeone - Falcao is one of the best

Diego Simeone says striker Radamel Falcao is as important to Atletico Madrid as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are to their clubs.

The Columbian international scored the only goal as the Los Colchoneros beat local rivals Rayo Vallecano 1-0 on Sunday night to keep them in contention for a European place. The strike was the 26-year-old's 30th of the season and Simeone says the forward is now up there with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. "Real Madrid have Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona have Messi, but we have Falcao," Simeone told reporters. "He scored yet another winner, and we're delighted that he's our striker".