Atletico Madrid’s South Korean midfielder #07 Kang-In Lee (2L) celebrates scoring their first goal during the Spanish league football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Malaga CF at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Javier SORIANO / AFP)
Kang-In Lee and Alex Baena’s superb strikes helped Atletico Madrid kick off their La Liga campaign with a 2-0 win over Malaga on Wednesday, without forward Julian Alvarez.
Argentina international Alvarez, who wanted to sign for Barcelona, is not involved yet as he finds fitness following a post-World Cup break along with several others, Diego Simeone sent out an Atletico side peppered with youngsters.
However, substitutes Lee and Baena ensured the Rojiblancos, who last won La Liga in 2021, got off to winning ways with second half goals from outside the box.
Promoted opponents Malaga, who were relegated from La Liga in 2018 and dropped to Spain’s third tier before fighting their way back up, kept things tight in the first half.
