*This content was translated by AI.
Lee Kang-in (25), making his first start since joining Atletico Madrid, fought hard for 67 minutes but failed to score consecutive goals. Despite the setback of a red card, Atletico managed to secure a dramatic equalizer in the final moments of the second half, resulting in a draw with Villarreal.
On the 24th at 0:00 (Korean time), Atletico played a home match against Villarreal at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, in the second round of the 2026-2027 La Liga season. After a fierce battle, the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
In the opening match, Atletico secured a 2-0 victory thanks to Lee Kang-in's decisive goal that broke the deadlock. However, in their second game, they had to settle for just one point.
On this day, Diego Simeone selected Lee Kang-in and Ademola Lookman as the front-line striking duo. The midfield was composed of Alex Grimaldo, Rodrigo Mendoza, Morten Hjulmand, and Julian Simeone. The back three consisted of David Hancko, Robin Le Normand, and Marc Pubill. Jan Oblak guarded the goal.
Lee Kang-in, who scored a spectacular debut goal in the opening match, aimed for consecutive goals over two matches but fell short. He played on the field for 67 minutes until being substituted out in the 22nd minute of the second half.
The first half saw a somewhat frustrating flow. Atletico struggled to break through Villarreal's tight defensive wall. Instead, Villarreal used Nicolas Pepe on the right flank to launch sharp counterattacks that shook Atletico's defense.
Lee Kang-in dropped deep into his own defensive area to exchange passes with teammates and search for openings. When he lost possession, he quickly returned to his defensive position, showing dedicated effort. From the middle of the first half, he switched positions with Mendoza, moving to the left flank to inject energy into the attack.
At the start of the second half, Atletico made a change by bringing on Alex Baena for Mendoza. In the 6th minute of the second half, Pepe exploited the right flank and threatened the goal with a sharp left-footed shot, but goalkeeper Oblak managed to save it just in time, averting a crisis.
Lee Kang-in also seized a decisive opportunity. In the 9th minute of the second half, he attempted a powerful left-footed shot from an angle similar to his debut goal in the opening match, but was blocked by Villarreal defender Juan Foyth's physical defense.
In the 19th minute of the second half, Atletico scored the opening goal. Marc Pubill unleashed a surprise left-footed mid-range shot near the penalty box, and the ball curled into the far corner of the left side of the goal.
However, Villarreal quickly restored the balance. In the 21st minute of the second half, after winning a penalty kick, Gerard Moreno calmly slotting the ball into the right side of the goal to equalize at 1-1.
Immediately after conceding, in the 22nd minute of the second half, Atletico made a tactical substitution, bringing on Julian Alvarez, Marcos Llorente, and Pablo Barrios simultaneously for Lee Kang-in, Koke, and Pubill. As Alvarez, who had been involved in recent transfer rumors, stepped onto the pitch, boos erupted from the home crowd.
In the 36th minute of the second half, a major blow struck Atletico. Le Normand was shown a straight red card after pushing an opponent to the ground inside the penalty box following a video assistant referee (VAR) review. Coach Simeone and Hjulmand, who strongly protested the decision, both received yellow cards. Subsequently, Jorge Mikuataje, who took the penalty kick, successfully converted it, allowing Villarreal to take a 2-1 lead.
Facing a numerical disadvantage, Atletico managed to score a miraculous equalizer in the final moments of the second half. In the 41st minute of the second half, Julian Simeone penetrated the space behind the defense and shook the left net with a sharp right-footed ground shot.
Ultimately, both teams shared one point each after an intense back-and-forth battle, ending in a 2-2 draw.
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*This content was translated by AI.
