Lee Kang-in Scores Winner 13 Minutes After Coming On for Atletico

[26.08.20] Lee Kang-in Scores Winner 13 Minutes After Coming On for Atletico -- Spanish Press Raves

South Korean national team star Lee Kang-in scored the winning goal just 13 minutes after coming on as a substitute in his official Atletico Madrid debut. Back in La Liga after three years away, Lee curled home the winner with his left foot to seal an opening-day win, and was named Man of the Match in an unforgettable first appearance.

1. A Return to La Liga After Three Years -- The Transfer and the Result

Lee Kang-in left Paris Saint-Germain for Atletico Madrid this summer. He signed a five-year contract, with a transfer fee of 40 million euros in total. Having made his professional debut at Valencia before moving on to Mallorca and then PSG, Lee is now back on Spanish soil for the first time in three years.

Atletico beat Malaga 2-0 on August 20 (Korea time) at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid in their 2026-27 La Liga opening match. Lee was named the match's official Man of the Match and posted a rating of 8.2 according to SofaScore.

Lee had already been building toward this debut through preseason. He first wore the Atletico shirt in a friendly against Manchester City, and started in the club's final preseason match against Olympique de Marseille, where he showed several sharp through-balls that raised expectations for his league debut.

A five-year deal worth a 40 million euro transfer fee… He also inherited the No. 7 shirt once worn by Antoine Griezmann.

2. First Half: A Frustrating Atletico Attack and a Resilient Malaga

Atletico lined up in a 5-4-1 formation to start the match. Jan Oblak started in goal, with Dani Martinez, David Hancko, Robin Le Normand, Jorge Dominguez and Carlos Martin forming the backline, and Arnau Ortiz, Rodrigo Mendoza, Pablo Barrios and Koke in midfield, with Ademola Lookman up front alone. Lee Kang-in, who had joined the squad late, along with Cristian Romero, Alex Grimaldo and other key players, started the match on the bench.

Atletico controlled possession from the opening whistle but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Malaga sat deep and packed the space tightly, leaving the hosts short of answers. A cross from Martinez in the 18th minute and a shot from Mendoza in the 26th minute were both cleared by the visitors' defense, and Atletico's first shot on target didn't arrive until the 35th minute.

Malaga even had the better of the closing stages of the first half. Chupete and David Larrubia both fired off dangerous shots in stoppage time, with Oblak forced into two saves to keep the score level. An offside call followed, but it was a warning sign for Atletico, and the first half ended goalless at 0-0.

A frustrating opening 45 minutes for the hosts… Coach Diego Simeone would soon turn to a bold set of substitutions.

3. The Winner, 13 Minutes After Coming On -- The Left Foot That Changed the Game

With the score still level at 0-0 in the 57th minute, Diego Simeone withdrew Martin, Mendoza and Ortiz, sending on Lee Kang-in, Giuliano Simeone and Alex Baena all at once. Lee immediately made his presence felt in central midfield, linking attack and defense, and in the 59th minute fired a long-range effort with his left foot that served as a warning of what was to come.

In the 70th minute, Hancko played a long switch of play out to the right, where Lee received the ball. He drove diagonally inside past a defender before finding a pocket of space near the edge of the box, and curled a powerful left-footed shot into the top corner of the net. The time between his introduction and the goal was just 13 minutes.

Lee's impact didn't end with the goal. In the 74th minute, he slid a clever pass in behind the Malaga defense that set up a one-on-one chance for Lookman, though the striker's effort was saved. Then in the 85th minute, Alex Baena stepped up to convert a free kick he had won himself, right-footed, doubling the lead to 2-0.

Momentum swung entirely in Atletico's favor after the opener. Lookman fired a powerful shot that was saved, and Hancko's header struck the crossbar as the hosts pressed for more, while Malaga's late attempts to fight back could not break down the Atletico defense.

A frustrating deadlock broken by a bold substitution… Simeone's gamble paid off exactly as planned.

4. Spanish Press Reaction -- "A New Hero Has Arrived"

After the match, Spanish outlets focused less on the win itself and more on Lee Kang-in. Marca-affiliated outlet AS ran the headline "Ole, ole, Lee Kang-in!" and gave his debut extensive coverage, writing that although Griezmann is gone, his No. 7 shirt has found a successor in Lee. Marca called his debut "fantastic," declaring that Atletico had found a new hero.

The Spanish press also directly addressed skepticism that had followed his transfer. There had been suggestions that the signing was more of a commercial move aimed at the Korean and Asian markets than a footballing decision. AS noted that many believed the transfer was made simply to sell shirts, but wrote that Lee proved with this match that he is a footballer of real quality.

Beyond his performance, his attitude also drew attention. AS pointedly referenced Julian Alvarez, who had recently found himself at odds with the club over a move to Barcelona, suggesting he "should learn from Lee Kang-in."

Outlets particularly praised the tactical intelligence of his movement from the flank into the middle, which threw off the timing of Malaga's defenders. Analysts described it as a calculated sequence of play rather than a moment of individual flair alone, culminating in his trademark curling finish.

Humility and dedication also became talking points… He earned praise for both his performance and his attitude.

5. Simeone: "A Dedicated Player" -- Challenges Still Ahead

After the match, Simeone praised Lee as "a player who does what's asked of him in matches -- a dedicated player who does his job when the team needs him." He added that he had seen the same qualities from Lee both with the Korean national team and at his previous clubs, and said he would help Lee reach his best form.

Asked which goal he preferred, Lee's or Baena's, Simeone called it "an unfair question for both players," saying both goals were excellent and exactly what the team needed. Atletico had rested many of their key players who had featured heavily at the 2026 World Cup, fielding a younger starting XI, and the team's performance only lifted after the second-half substitutions.

On his team selection, Simeone explained, "I thought it was best to start the players who were in the best physical condition," adding that "the substitutions in the second half brought the level of performance we were looking for, and we got the win."

Still, the fact that Lee came off the bench rather than starting the match shows he will need to fight for a starting spot going forward. He will also need to fully adapt to the intense pressing and defensive work Simeone demands from his players.

A successful debut, but only the beginning… Competition for a starting role and tactical adaptation remain ahead of him.

Category	Details
Match Result	Atletico Madrid 2-0 Malaga (2026-27 La Liga, Matchday 1)
First Half	Started in a 5-4-1 formation, ended 0-0, Malaga fired two dangerous shots in stoppage time
Lee Kang-in	Substituted on in the 57th minute, scored the winner in the 70th minute (curling left foot), rated 8.2 (SofaScore)
Second Goal	Alex Baena free kick in the 85th minute made it 2-0
Transfer Details	PSG to Atletico, 5-year contract, transfer fee of 40 million euros, No. 7 shirt
Press Reaction	AS: "a new hero"; Marca: "a fantastic debut"
Manager's Take	Simeone: "A dedicated player who does his job when the team needs him"

[Summary] 5 Key Facts on Lee Kang-in's Atletico Debut Goal

• 1. A La Liga return after three years: Lee left PSG for Atletico on a five-year deal worth a 40 million euro transfer fee.
• 2. A frustrating first half: Atletico started in a 5-4-1 but managed only a 0-0 draw, and even conceded dangerous chances to Malaga.
• 3. A winner 13 minutes after coming on: Substituted on in the 57th minute, he scored with a curling left foot in the 70th.
• 4. Glowing reviews from the Spanish press: Outlets like AS and Marca hailed Lee as "a new hero."
• 5. Challenges remain: Competing for a starting role and adapting to the team's tactics are the tasks ahead.

Related tags: Lee Kang-in, Atletico Madrid, La Liga, Simeone, Lee Kang-in goal, Lee Kang-in debut, Spanish football, Malaga match