Second Half Surge
Despite a challenging first half, Atletico Madrid found their rhythm after the break. Simeone introduced Lee, Baena, and his son Giuliano shortly before the hour mark, a decision that proved pivotal. Lee, who joined Atletico from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, made an immediate impact. In the 70th minute, he received the ball on the right flank, skillfully maneuvered into the penalty area, and delivered a stunning shot that curled into the far corner of the net, marking a memorable debut at the Metropolitano Stadium while wearing the number seven shirt previously held by Antoine Griezmann.
Following Lee's opener, Atletico continued to press for a second goal. Both Ademola Lookman and David Hancko came close to extending the lead, but it was Baena who ultimately sealed the victory. With just five minutes remaining, the Spanish World Cup winner executed a brilliant free-kick that struck the crossbar before finding the back of the net, showcasing his talent and determination after a mixed first season since joining from Villarreal.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on the match, Baena acknowledged the challenges posed by Malaga, stating, "The first games are always tricky. Malaga are a good team with a lot of young players and they made things hard for us." He expressed his delight at scoring his first goal at the Metropolitano, a moment he had eagerly anticipated. With this victory, Atletico Madrid, who finished fourth last season, will now prepare to face Villarreal, the team that narrowly edged them for third place, in their next match on Sunday. Meanwhile, La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to kick off their campaigns this weekend, with matches against Espanyol and Elche, respectively.
