Atletico Madrid opened their new La Liga season with a 2-0 home victory against Malaga after breaking down a resilient defense at the Metropolitano Stadium.
South Korean forward Lee Kang-in scored the opening goal in the 70th minute before midfielder Alex Baena sealed the three points with an 82nd-minute strike.
The host team struggled to break down the visiting side for 70 minutes, creating visible anxiety among the supporters inside the stadium as the score remained goalless.
Prior to kickoff, Atletico Madrid honored their World Cup winners as the club's Argentine players showcased the World Cup trophy on the pitch before the home crowd.
Atletico Madrid are one of Spain's premier football clubs and compete in La Liga, the top division of Spanish football. Under long-serving Argentine manager Diego Simeone, the club plays its home matches at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
Second-Half Substitutions Break the Deadlock
Diego Simeone made a triple substitution in the 57th minute that fundamentally altered the match. He brought on Lee Kang-in for Martin, Baena for Ortiz, and Simeone for Mendoza to refresh the attacking line.
The managerial decision paid off 13 minutes later when Lee Kang-in unlocked the stubborn Malaga defense to put Atletico Madrid ahead in the 70th minute.
Baena then doubled the lead eight minutes from full time, completing the scoring in the 82nd minute after coming off the bench to secure the victory on the opening matchday.
Simeone had made his first substitution at halftime, replacing defender Dominguez with Marcos Llorente at the break. Midfielder Koke was later replaced by Hjulmand in the 78th minute.
Matchday Lineups and Squad Details
Jan Oblak started in goal for Atletico Madrid behind a defensive line consisting of Dominguez, Robin Le Normand, Hancko, and Martinez.
Koke, Ortiz, Martin, and Barrios started in midfield, while Mendoza and Lookman led the attack for the home side before Simeone introduced his second-half substitutes.
Malaga provided strong resistance throughout the first half and deep into the second period, keeping the match goalless until the 70th minute.
Full La Liga Opening Matchday Results
The 2-0 victory placed Atletico Madrid among the winning teams on the opening matchday of the new Spanish league season.
In other opening round matches, Alaves recorded a 3-0 home victory over Getafe, while Espanyol achieved a 3-0 win against Levante. Sevilla secured a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo La Coruna drew 1-1 with Elche, and Racing Santander played out a 2-2 draw against Villarreal.
The remaining fixtures of the opening matchday continue later in the week. Valencia host Real Betis on August 25, Real Madrid visit Real Sociedad on August 26, and the opening round concludes on August 27 when Celta Vigo face Osasuna and Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao.
