*This content was translated by AI.
"When Lee Kang-in gets the ball, something happens."
Praise poured in from Spanish media for Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid), the ace of the South Korean national football team.
On the 15th at 0:30 a.m. (Korean time), Atletico secured a 2-1 victory over Marseille (France) in a pre-season friendly match held at Orange Velodrome in Marseille, France. Rodrigo Mendez scored an equalizer in the 39th minute of the first half, and Carlos Martin netted the winning goal in the 33rd minute of the second half.
Lee Kang-in, who made his debut for Atletico in a match against Manchester City (England) held in Seoul on the 9th, was named in the starting lineup for the first time in this game. Deployed as an attacker in a 5-3-2 formation, he partnered with Ademola Lookman to target the opponent's goal.
The match showcased Lee Kang-in's greatest strength: his ability to deliver unexpected passes that catch opponents off guard. On this day, all six of Lee Kang-in's passes were successfully connected to teammates, achieving a 100% pass completion rate.
He also created several near-goal-scoring opportunities. In the 8th minute of the first half, Lee Kang-in received the ball near the halfway line and calmly turned his body. Immediately spotting Lookman penetrating behind the defense, he delivered a precise through pass that completely broke down Marseille's defensive line.
Lookman, receiving Lee Kang-in's pass, found himself in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. However, his shot struck the goalpost and went out, failing to result in a goal.
He also created another promising opportunity in the 32nd minute of the first half. Lee Kang-in drew defenders in with a dribble before passing to Lookman, who was positioned on the right side. However, Lookman's touch was not smooth, and the ball drifted slightly backward, preventing a decisive shooting chance.
Lee Kang-in was substituted after playing 35 minutes of the first half. Atletico manager Diego Simeone also brought Alejandro Grimaldo and Julian Simeone off the field together. This move appeared to be aimed at adjusting the players' fitness ahead of the La Liga Round 1 match against Malaga on the 20th, which kicks off the 2026-2027 season.
Despite his short playing time, Lee Kang-in received a clear passing grade.
After the match, Spanish outlet AS reported: "Atletico concluded its pre-season with a comeback victory against Marseille," adding that "the team's performance improved as the game progressed, and several names worth watching emerged ahead of the Malaga match."
It further explained: "The attack featured new striker Lookman, and the player who provided him with excellent passes was Lee Kang-in, one of the players Atletico signed this summer."
Most notably, AS focused on Lee Kang-in's passing ability. The outlet highly praised that "two of Lee Kang-in's passes could have led to goals."
It also compared Lee Kang-in favorably with another new signing for Atletico, Grimaldo.
AS stated: "The Korean Lee Kang-in started the match and played 35 minutes, just like Grimaldo. It was natural that Grimaldo, who had only recently joined the team, appeared somewhat quiet. However, Lee Kang-in demonstrated that 'something happens when he gets the ball.'"
It further added: "He has a great view of the game and shows clear intent in his play. A good signing."
AS also gave high praise to Atletico's entire summer transfer market. The outlet stated: "This summer was the first transfer window managed by Mateo Alemani in assembling the squad, and so far, it deserves a standing ovation."
This reflects satisfaction with the performances of new faces, including Lee Kang-in.
It continued: "Atletico has cleared out players who needed to leave while securing transfer fees, and although the number of signings was not large, they were successful," reiterating its high evaluation.
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*This content was translated by AI.
