La Liga Gameweek 1
Atletico Madrid 2 - 0 FT Malaga
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Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
15' D. Hancko
37' J. Dominguez
C. Puga 45'+4
HT
46' ↓ J. Dominguez ↑M. Llorente
57' ↓ C. Martin ↑Lee Kang-In
57' ↓ A. Ortiz ↑A. Baena
57' ↓ R. Mendoza ↑G. Simeone
↓ J. Munoz ↑J. Cruz 67'
↓ C. Dotor ↑R. Rodriguez 67'
70' Lee Kang-In (D. Hancko)
↓ C. Puga ↑J. Salinas 72'
78' ↓ Koke ↑M. Hjulmand
J. Cruz 80'
↓ D. Lorenzo ↑E. Jauregi 81'
↓ E. Galilea ↑R. Enriquez 81'
85' A. Baena
R. Enriquez 88'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Atletico Madrid
Goalkeepers
Jan Oblak 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jorge Dominguez 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
44%
Duel Win %
Robin Le Normand
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Dávid Hancko 
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
1
Assists
91%
Pass Acc
Daniel Martinez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Koke 
MAGNET
72
Activity
72
Activity
67
Passes
5
Duels
Carlos Martín 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Rodrigo Mendoza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
Pablo Barrios 
SWEEPER
3
Cleanups
3
Cleanups
3
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Arnau Ortiz
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
5%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Ademola Lookman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Juan Musso 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Marc Pubill
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
José María Giménez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álex Grimaldo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marcos Llorente
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
49
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álex Baena 
CLUTCH HERO
85
Goal Time
85
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.7
Rating
Lee Kang-In 
SUPER SUB
1
Goal
1
Goal
37
Minutes
8.2
Rating
Morten Hjulmand
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Johnny Cardoso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jorge Castillo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Giuliano Simeone
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
37
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Miguel Cubo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Malaga
Goalkeepers
Alfonso Herrero
MAGNET
46
Activity
46
Activity
46
Passes
0
Duels
Defenders
Puga
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
23%
Pass Acc
Ángel Recio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Einar Galilea
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
Rafita
SWEEPER
4
Cleanups
4
Cleanups
4
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Midfielders
Izan Merino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
David Larrubia
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Carlos Dotor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
Dani Lorenzo
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
81
Entry
Joaquín Muñoz 
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Chupe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Carlos López
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
José Salinas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Álex Pastor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rafa Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Joseph Otunenche
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ramón Enríquez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Cruz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Juan Fernandéz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Julen Lobete
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haitam Abaida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eneko Jauregi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/10/2018 | Malaga | 0 - 1 | Atletico Madrid | La Liga | La Rosaleda |
| 09/16/2017 | Atletico Madrid | 1 - 0 | Malaga | La Liga | Estadio Wanda Metropolitano |
| 04/01/2017 | Malaga | 0 - 2 | Atletico Madrid | La Liga | La Rosaleda |
| 10/29/2016 | Atletico Madrid | 4 - 2 | Malaga | La Liga | Vicente Calderón |
| 04/23/2016 | Atletico Madrid | 1 - 0 | Malaga | La Liga | Vicente Calderón |
| 12/20/2015 | Malaga | 1 - 0 | Atletico Madrid | La Liga | La Rosaleda |
| 04/11/2015 | Malaga | 2 - 2 | Atletico Madrid | La Liga | La Rosaleda |
| 11/22/2014 | Atletico Madrid | 3 - 1 | Malaga | La Liga | Estadio Vicente Calderón (Madrid) |
| 05/11/2014 | Atletico Madrid | 1 - 1 | Malaga | La Liga | Estadio Vicente Calderón (Madrid) |
| 01/04/2014 | Malaga | 0 - 1 | Atletico Madrid | La Liga | Estadio La Rosaleda (Málaga) |
02/10/2018
09/16/2017
04/01/2017
10/29/2016
04/23/2016
12/20/2015
04/11/2015
11/22/2014
05/11/2014
01/04/2014
Atletico Madrid Win
Malaga Win
Draw
League Standings
| Pos | Team | P | Pts | GF | GA | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espanyol | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | +3 | WEspanyol 3 - 0 Levante (16-08-2026) |
| 2 | Alaves | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | +3 | WAlaves 3 - 0 Getafe (15-08-2026) |
| 3 | Atletico Madrid | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | +2 | WAtletico Madrid 2 - 0 Malaga (19-08-2026) |
| 4 | Sevilla | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | +1 | WSevilla 2 - 1 Rayo Vallecano (15-08-2026) |
| 5 | Villarreal | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | DRacing Santander 2 - 2 Villarreal (16-08-2026) |
| 6 | Racing Santander | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | DRacing Santander 2 - 2 Villarreal (16-08-2026) |
| 7 | Deportivo La Coruna | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | DDeportivo La Coruna 1 - 1 Elche (17-08-2026) |
| 8 | Elche | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | DDeportivo La Coruna 1 - 1 Elche (17-08-2026) |
| 9 | Rayo Vallecano | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 | LSevilla 2 - 1 Rayo Vallecano (15-08-2026) |
| 10 | Malaga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | LAtletico Madrid 2 - 0 Malaga (19-08-2026) |
| 11 | Levante | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | LEspanyol 3 - 0 Levante (16-08-2026) |
| 12 | Getafe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -3 | LAlaves 3 - 0 Getafe (15-08-2026) |
League Standings
P: 6 GD: +22
P: 6 GD: +11
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +8
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +5
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 5 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: -5
P: 6 GD: -5
P: 6 GD: -5
P: 6 GD: -7
P: 6 GD: -1
P: 5 GD: -2
P: 6 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 6 GD: -3
P: 6 GD: -8
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Atletico Madrid
Malaga
Atletico Madrid
Malaga
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Super Subs Shatter Malaga's Resistance
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 51/100. Diego Simeone's tactical substitutions turned a frustrating stalemate into a clinical opening-day victory for the relentless hosts.
The Initial Stalemate
The Riyadh Air Metropolitano witnessed a relentless attacking siege from the first whistle, as Atletico Madrid sought to break down a resilient Malaga side. The hosts edged possession and dictated the tempo, turning the visitors' penalty area into a shooting gallery with a barrage of early attempts. However, Alfonso Herrero stood remarkably tall between the posts for the Andalusians, producing four crucial saves to keep the match deadlocked. Despite registering a staggering 15 shots compared to Malaga's mere five, Atletico found themselves continually frustrated by a deeply entrenched and stubborn defensive block. The sheer Intensity of the home side's offensive pressure suggested a goal was merely a matter of time, but Malaga's disciplined organisation held miraculously firm through a highly tense opening hour, ultimately demanding a fresh, innovative approach from the home dugout to alter the match's frustrating trajectory.
Simeone's Tactical Shift
The definitive turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Atletico's coaching staff made the decisive call to shuffle their attacking deck. Introducing Lee Kang-In and A. Baena off the bench immediately disrupted the delicate Balance of the encounter. These fresh legs injected a renewed, frantic vigour into the final third, aggressively stretching Malaga's increasingly tired defensive lines. The elusive breakthrough finally materialised in the 70th minute. D. Hancko, who had been an instrumental creative force throughout the contest, delivered a perfectly weighted assist that located Lee Kang-In in space. The South Korean international made absolutely no mistake, validating his manager's decision with a devastatingly clinical finish. This tactical masterstroke not only shattered Malaga's prolonged resistance but also heavily underlined the immense squad depth at Atletico's disposal.
Breaking the Dam
With the visitors suddenly forced to abandon their rigid defensive shell in desperate search of a late equaliser, significant spaces began to open up across the pitch. Atletico rapidly capitalised on this newfound structural freedom, demonstrating the ruthless efficiency required at this level. In the 85th minute, A. Baena etched his own name onto the scoresheet, doubling the advantage and effectively killing off any lingering hopes of an unlikely away comeback. The 2-0 scoreline accurately reflected a match where the hosts maintained their composure and executed their exhaustive game plan to absolute perfection. Securing three precious points on home soil sets an incredibly positive tone for their league campaign, proving that their bench possesses the required firepower to conquer any difficult challenges. The early-season Stakes were ultimately handled with supreme confidence.
Key Questions
What does this mean for Atletico Madrid's season?
Starting with a solid home win builds crucial momentum and demonstrates the incredible squad depth they will heavily rely on throughout the La Liga campaign.
How did substitute Dávid Hancko change the game?
Despite playing from the opening whistle, Hancko acted as a brilliant playmaker from deep, shifting the attacking dynamic and delivering the decisive assist.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Opening Day Mismatch Awaits
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 9/100. A massively one-sided curtain-raiser that promises routine dominance for the hosts and little drama for the neutral viewer.
The Setup
Metropolitano Stadium hosts this August 19, 2026 clash to kick off the new La Liga campaign. With opening weekend Stakes naturally sitting low in the grand scheme of the calendar, Atletico Madrid walk into this fixture holding an overwhelming probability of victory. While Stars on display might not break any global metrics, the sheer lack of competitive Balance tells the real story. Malaga arrive as massive underdogs, meaning a clean slate of early-season Form will do little to protect the visitors from a gruelling afternoon.
Key Battle
Without recognizable marquee names on the visiting side to analyze, this boils down to a clinical offensive onslaught versus a desperate rearguard action. J. Álvarez will lead the charge up front, supported by the relentless midfield engine of Pablo Barrios and Álex Baena. The away backline must weather a heavy early storm to keep the scoreline even remotely respectable.
Our Prediction
A routine 3-0 home win. Atletico will suffocate the visitors in possession, utilizing their superior midfield control to break the defensive block early before cruising to the final whistle.