Lee Kang-in has dream debut as Atletico Madrid start LaLiga campaign with win over Malaga

[p]Having finished the 2025/26 LaLiga campaign with their lowest points tally in 14 years, Los Rojiblancos knew a positive start to the season was needed against their newly-promoted visitors.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico[/a] edged a cagey opening half-hour in the Spanish capital, but clear-cut chances were in short supply, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mendoza-rodrigo/YNiXFzek/"]Rodrigo Mendoza[/a] saw a speculative effort from range comfortably saved by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/herrero-alfonso/46MITnQj/"]Alfonso Herrero[/a].[/p][p]In the absence of prolific duo [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-julian/bBHauDIC/"]Julian Alvarez[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sorloth-alexander/QwqgNkTP/"]Alexander Sorloth[/a], the hosts continued to struggle in the final third as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/malaga/25tIqYiJ/"]Malaga[/a] grew in confidence before half-time.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musso-juan/zB5O8dXn/"]Juan Francisco Funes[/a]’ men nearly took a shock lead in first-half stoppage time, only for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oblak-jan/SYy8ZHN9/"]Jan Oblak[/a] to come to Atletico’s rescue, denying both [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chupe/xGvzc36S/"]Chupe[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/larrubia-david/hWytXuuP/"]David Larrubia[/a] with a sharp double save.[/p][p]Having failed to score in only two of their 19 home LaLiga games last term, Simeone’s side looked to up the ante at the start of the second period, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lookman-ademola/8QK1SO5g/"]Ademola[/a] Lookman and Mendoza went close in quick succession.[/p][p]Keen to build on that momentum, the Atlético boss made a triple-substitution shortly before the hour mark, introducing Lee for his competitive debut, as well as Giuliano Simeone and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baena-alex/bmeQTB92/"]Alex Baena[/a].[/p][p][b]The debutant had an immediate impact for the hosts, cutting in from the right flank and curling a sublime left-footed strike into the top corner to break the deadlock in the 70th minute.[/b][/p][image alt="Lee Kang-In's goal" id="ff73fd6d-81c1-4302-a007-69bc76a67e6e" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (DENIS DOYLE / GETTY IMAGES EUROPE / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP)" guid="00e43fe9-185d-4aa4-94b7-fde1fb292771" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]That eased the tension amongst the home support, with Lookman seeing a powerful effort saved by Herrero, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hancko-david/zRTnwHe5/"]David Hancko[/a] directed a header against the bar.[/p][p][b]Not to be denied, Atletico doubled their lead in the closing stages, as Baena swept a spectacular free-kick into the roof of the net from 25 yards, putting the seal on a win that extends Simeone’s impressive managerial record in LaLiga opening fixtures to just one defeat in 15 outings (W8, D6).[/b][/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hancko-david/zRTnwHe5/"]David Hancko[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico Madrid[/a]) [/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/malaga-25tIqYiJ/?mid=MX8chH9e"]Click here for more on the match[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Match stats" id="ba4225d7-0211-405d-a63d-2f6cfffce966" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="d94c7dba-d99d-4ead-bbb9-28c62eba433f" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /]