Atletico Madrid 2-0 Malaga: Lee Kang-in and Baena secure opening day win (full highlights)

Atletico Madrid kicked off their La Liga campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Malaga at the Civitas Metropolitano, with second-half goals from Lee Kang-in and Alex Baena securing all three points in front of 65,785 spectators who packed the stadium for the opening fixture. The first half was a tense affair with Atletico dominating possession but struggling to break down a resilient Malaga defense that held firm throughout the opening period, and David Ganzko was shown a yellow card in the 15th minute for a tactical foul that halted a promising Malaga counter-attack. The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute when Lee Kang-in opened his account for the season with a clinical finish from Ganzko's delivery, sending the ball past the helpless Malaga goalkeeper and sparking celebrations among the home supporters. Alex Baena doubled the lead in the 85th minute, converting from a right-flank cross with a precise first-time shot to make it 2-0 and seal the victory for the home side, ensuring a perfect start to the campaign. The match was a physical contest with yellow cards shown to Jorge Dominguez (37'), Carlos Puga (45+4'), Juan Cruz (80'), and Ramon Enriquez, reflecting the intensity of the battle in midfield throughout the 90 minutes. Atletico registered 16 shots to Malaga's 5, enjoyed 64% possession, and created 7 clear chances compared to the visitors' 1, underlining their complete dominance over the contest. After the match, Atletico manager Diego Simeone praised his team's dominance but expressed frustration that they hadn't scored earlier, while also commending debutant Lee Kang-in for his first goal of the season and his overall performance. The full match highlights and all goals are available to watch, showcasing Atletico's strong start to the season and Malaga's need to improve their attacking efficiency if they are to avoid a relegation battle in what promises to be a challenging campaign for the newly promoted side.