'Explosive debut goal in debut match' Lee Kang-in aims for 'first start and consecutive goals' just two games into the season... Included in squad list for Villarreal match

*This content was translated by AI.

After a truly sensational debut performance, Lee Kang-in (25) is now aiming to continue his momentum with his first start and goals in two consecutive matches.

Lee Kang-in was named in the squad list for the Round 2 match against Villarreal of the 2026-2027 Spanish professional football La Liga, held at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain at 0:00 a.m. on the 24th (Korean time).

This is his second match for Atletico Madrid following his outstanding performance with a 'debut goal in his debut match' in the opening Round 1 game against Malaga.

In the opening match against Malaga on the 20th, Lee Kang-in was substituted into the game in the 12th minute of the second half and scored the decisive leading goal just 13 minutes later. Receiving the ball from the right flank, he cut inside, repeatedly evading opposing defenders before striking a powerful left-footed shot that violently shook the opponent's net.

Atletico Madrid, which had struggled against the opposing defense and failed to break the 0-0 deadlock before Lee Kang-in entered the game, seized control after his goal and secured a 2-0 victory by adding a late strike from Alex Baena in the final moments of the second half.

Following the match, Lee Kang-in received unanimous praise with 'perfect scores' from local media outlets including Marca, AS, and Mundo Deportivo. In the case of Marca and AS, which evaluate player performances using star (★) and spade (♠) counts ranging from 0 to 3, Lee Kang-in was the only player across both teams to receive a perfect score.

Even if a player scores a decisive goal, it is difficult for substitutes with limited playing time to receive high ratings. The fact that local media outlets unanimously gave Lee Kang-in perfect scores carries even greater significance.

The background for this praise lies not only in his leading decisive goal but also in how Lee Kang-in completely dismantled the space behind the defense immediately after entering the game, creating chances for teammates with exquisite through passes and fundamentally changing the flow of the match.

Having delivered an impeccable debut performance in his first match, which was expected to be burdened by pressure, Lee Kang-in is now capitalizing on this momentum to challenge for his first start and goals in two consecutive matches.

Since joining Atletico Madrid, he has been limited to playing around 30 minutes across three matches, including two pre-season friendly games. He played 27 minutes against Manchester City (England), 36 minutes against Marseille (France), and 33 minutes against Malaga (all based on regular time).

Due to delays in joining the team caused by issues related to departure from Korea even after his transfer to Atletico Madrid was confirmed, Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid manager, has not been forcing him to increase his playing time.

Even in the only match where he started against Marseille, he was substituted out just 36 minutes into the first half, well before the end of the first period, and finished the game early.

However, given his excellent performance since the opening match, there is a high probability that his playing time will increase in this upcoming Villarreal match compared to previous games. If his playing time increases, the likelihood of accumulating attacking points will naturally rise as well.

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*This content was translated by AI.