It took Atletico Madrid 70 minutes to crack Malaga open, but once Lee Kang-In found the net, there was no way back for the newly promoted visitors. Atletico controlled the game from the start without ever looking fluent, then delivered two late goals to close out a 2-0 win at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Simeone’s side kept a clean sheet, held 53% possession, and fired 15 shots to Malaga’s five, though an xG of just 0.82 tells you the performance was more workmanlike than dominant.
Key Moments
- 15′, Dávid Hancko picks up the first yellow card of the match for tripping, giving Malaga an early free kick in a dangerous area.
- 37′, Jorge Domínguez is booked for holding, putting him on a tight leash. Simeone pulls him at half-time to avoid the risk of a second yellow.
- 46′, Domínguez is replaced at the start of the second half, a tactical precaution after his first-half booking.
- 57′, Simeone makes a triple change, sending on Alex Baena, Kang-in Lee and Giuliano Simeone for Arnau Ortiz, Carlos Martín and Rodrigo Mendoza in search of a breakthrough.
- 70′, Lee Kang-In breaks the deadlock to give Atletico the lead they had been pressing for since the first whistle.
- 85′, Alex Baena doubles the advantage five minutes from time, killing off any prospect of a Malaga comeback and sealing the clean sheet.
Tactical Breakdown
Both sides lined up in a 4-1-4-1, which produced a cagey first half with the scoreline level at 0-0 at the break. Atletico had the bulk of the ball and created more danger, finishing with six shots on target compared to Malaga’s one, but struggled to find the final pass in the final third. The 88% pass accuracy and 521 total passes show a team that kept Malaga pinned back without ever quite cutting them apart.
The triple substitution at the 57th minute was the turning point. Ortiz, Martín and Mendoza all made way at once for Alex Baena, Kang-in Lee and Giuliano Simeone, reshuffling the midfield and adding fresh legs to the pressing game. Two of those substitutes went on to settle the match. The move paid off within 13 minutes when Lee Kang-In put Atletico ahead, and the game was settled when Baena added a second in the 85th. Malaga’s keeper Alfonso Herrero made four saves to keep the score respectable.
Malaga had no real answer going forward. Their xG of 0.15 from five total shots tells its own story. The visitors were tidy in possession at 85% pass accuracy but barely threatened Jan Oblak, who was called upon only once all night. Three yellow cards and a disciplined shape for most of the match showed Malaga were not simply rolled over, but they never had the firepower to hurt a settled Atletico backline.
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Verdict
Atletico Madrid pick up three points from their La Liga opener and sit third on goal difference behind Espanyol and Alaves, all level on three points. The win was more functional than impressive, with a combined xG below one, but Simeone will take the clean sheet and the platform it provides. Malaga, back in the top flight after promotion, face a testing start and drop to 18th after their opening defeat.