Europa League final 2012 – in pictures

The venue for tonight's final is the National Arena in Bucharest. The bookmakers make Atlético Madrid (fifth in La Liga) 8-11 favourites to lift the trophy, with Athletic Bilbao (ninth) evens Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters

Photographers take pictures of the prize. Both sides have been in the final before: Atlético won the trophy in 2009-10 and back in the days of the Uefa Cup, Bilbao lost on away goals to Juventus in 1976-77 Photograph: Ina Fassbender/Reuters

The Bilbao fans are in fine voice before kick-off ... Photograph: Rafa Rivas/AFP/Getty Images

As are the Atlético supporters Photograph: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images

There's also a bit of fancy dress going on amongst the Bilbao fans Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty Images

The dancers have done their stuff and now the players are out and the real entertainment is about to begin Photograph: Barbara Sax/AFP/Getty Images

The first five minutes are cagey with Atlético just about getting the upper hand Photograph: Robert Ghement/EPA

In the seventh minute Falcao is fed by a pass down the inside-right channel by Adrian and surges into the area, albeit with little in the way of support ... Photograph: Petr Josek/AP

That doesn't matter because the Bilbao defence gives him time to cut back inside and wrap his left foot around the ball ... Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty Images

The ball flies past Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz and into the top corner Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Falcao has every reason to be pleased with that, it was a fabulous finish Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Just after the half-hour mark Iraola is caught dawdling in possession on the edge of his own area. The ball is prodded through to the left for Arda Turan, who cuts the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box. Falcao dupes Javi Martínez with a fabulous dragback ... Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Before smashing the ball past Iraizoz Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

That's his 12th goal in the competition this season, and his 35th in 48 games Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

It's no wonder Fernando Amorebieta and Iraizoz look distraught, Bilbao have been overawed and overpowered Photograph: Ina Fassbender/Reuters

As the first half goes on, the game starts to get a bit niggly, as Atlético's Diego shows after this challenge by Ander Iturraspe. Half-time score: Atlético Madrid 2-0 Athletic Bilbao Photograph: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images

Bilbao's Fernando Llorente has lit up the Europa Lague this season including scoring twice against Manchester United but he's proving ineffectual tonight, here he's crowded out by Filipe Luís, left and Miranda Photograph: Ina Fassbender/Reuters

Bilbao push forward in search of a way back into the game but are unable to penetrate the rows of red and white shirts Photograph: Vassil Donev/EPA

Atlético easily repel another attack by Bilbao Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The trouble with surging forward is that you leave yourself open at the back and with five minutes to go Atlético exploit this to seal the match. Diego runs at the Bilbao defence and beats Amorebieta with subtlety and skill before emphatically drilling the ball into the bottom right corner Photograph: Bogdan Cristel/Reuters

He is then is mobbed by his team-mates Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The final whistle goes and Atlético have won the Europa League for the second time. They rose to the occasion whereas Bilbao seemed to freeze on the night Photograph: Radu Sigheti/Reuters

For every winner there's a loser, and Llorente can't contain the tears after the final whistle Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty Images

There's unmitigated joy on the face of two-goal hero Falcao as he lifts the trophy high Photograph: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images

Cue the obligatory celebratory coach throwing though Diego Simeone seems to be enjoying it Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty Images

They're also savouring the victory back home in Madrid Photograph: Juan Medina/Reuters