Atlético Madrid needed patience, substitutions, and a couple of truly spectacular goals to get off on the right foot in their La Liga season. Diego Simeone’s team defeated newly promoted Málaga 2-0 on Wednesday at the Metropolitano, in a match that for much of the night seemed to be proving more difficult than expected.
The Rojiblancos found the solution in the second half thanks to Kang-In Lee, who opened the scoring in the 70th minute, and Álex Baena, a World Cup champion with Spain, who sealed the victory with a spectacular free kick in the 85th minute.
“Those were two great goals, and that’s how we were able to win a match that wasn’t all that easy,” Simeone acknowledged after the game.
Simeone rested several of his key players
The Argentine coach decided to start the match with a largely alternative lineup. Key players such as Marcos Llorente, Álex Baena, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Kang-In Lee started on the bench, while Atlético opted for several players from its youth academy. The strategy didn’t quite pay off in the first half.
The Colchoneros struggled to find open spaces and create scoring chances against a Málaga side that arrived at the Metropolitano ready to compete without hesitation after securing promotion. The situation forced Simeone to turn to his key players in the second half.
Julián Álvarez was left off the roster
One of the big names missing was Julián Álvarez. The Argentine forward wasn’t even named to the roster by Simeone, who explained that the striker isn’t yet in peak physical condition. This comes as Barcelona’s interest in the Argentine World Cup champion continues. However, Atlético president Enrique Cerezo once again made the club’s stance clear and assured that the club has no intention of selling Álvarez.
Kang-In Lee turned the game around
Atlético began to show a different side after halftime. The substitutions of Llorente, Baena, Kang-In Lee, and Giuliano brought greater intensity to the team and allowed them to increase the pressure on Málaga’s build-up play. The first serious threat came shortly after the start of the second half.
Ademola Lookman fired a powerful shot from distance in the 47th minute, forcing goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero to make a difficult save. But the goal would have to wait.
In the 70th minute, Kang-In Lee made his mark. The South Korean player received the ball on the right, advanced toward the edge of the box, and unleashed a spectacular shot that found the top right corner of Herrero’s net. The goal completely changed the atmosphere at the Metropolitano.
Álex Baena put the icing on the cake
With the lead, Atlético began to play with greater composure. Málaga tried to respond, but it became increasingly difficult for them to get near the red-and-white penalty area. With five minutes left in the game, the second blow came. Álex Baena stepped up to take a free kick and once again demonstrated why he is one of the most important players in the new generation of the Spanish national team. The midfielder once again placed the ball into the top right corner of Herrero’s net, sealing the 2-0 victory.
Another stunning goal and Málaga was left virtually helpless, and Atlético was able to see out the final minutes without too many scares.
“The substitutions made a huge difference”
Simeone acknowledged that the substitutions were crucial in turning the tide of the match.
“The substitutions took the game to the next level. We gave them just enough time to perform well,” explained the Argentine coach.
For his part, Kang-In Lee also admitted that he still needs to build up his rhythm to reach his best form.
“I’m still lacking rhythm, but with hard work we’ll keep improving both as a team and individually,” said the South Korean.
His scoring debut, however, could hardly have gotten off to a better start.
Tribute to the World Champions
Before the match, there was a special moment at the Metropolitano. Atlético paid tribute to its four Spanish internationals who won the 2026 World Cup: Álex Baena, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marcos Llorente, and Pubill.
The World Cup trophy was placed in the center of the field during the ceremony, while Spanish national team coach Luis de la Fuente was present in the stands. The celebration served as a tribute to the Rojiblancos players who recently won the World Cup with Spain.
Atlético joins the leaders
With its first three points of the season, Atlético Madrid joins Alavés, Sevilla, and Espanyol among the teams that started the competition with a win. La Liga kicked off in stages, and some of the top favorites have yet to make their debuts.
Real Madrid will take the field on Saturday, while Barcelona, the defending champion, will do the same on Sunday. Atlético, which finished fourth last season, has already sent its first message. It was far from a perfect debut. For 70 minutes, the Rojiblancos struggled to find their rhythm. Simeone turned to his star players, and two spectacular goals settled the matter. Kang-In Lee and Álex Baena were responsible for giving Atlético its first win of the season.
