Argentina international Alvarez, who wanted to sign for Barcelona, is not involved yet as he finds fitness following a post-World Cup break along with several others, Diego Simeone sent out an Atletico side peppered with youngsters. Kang-In Lee and Alex Baena’s superb strikes helped Atletico Madrid kick off their La Liga campaign with a 2-0 win over Malaga on Wednesday, without forward Julian Alvarez. However, substitutes Lee and Baena ensured the Rojiblancos, who last won La Liga in 2021, got off to winning ways with second half goals from outside the box.
Promoted opponents Malaga, who were relegated from La Liga in 2018 and dropped to Spain’s third tier before fighting their way back up, kept things tight in the first half.
“They were two great goals, and that’s how we were able to win a game that wasn’t that easy,” Simeone told Movistar.
Korea international Lee, signed from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, picked the ball up on the right, cut along the face of the area and then curled a fine strike in at the far post in the 70th minute. The hosts got the second goal as Spanish World Cup winner Baena bent home a spectacular free-kick, in off the crossbar, with five minutes remaining.
“I’m really happy to have scored my first goal at the Metropolitano,” he added.
