Lee Kang-in’s expression hardened even after being substituted, drawing scathing local criticism and the lowest rating of the match

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (25, Atletico Madrid) failed to smile brightly despite his team’s decisive victory. This was because he managed no clear impact and remained silent for three consecutive matches. Once again, his playing time was limited to 60 minutes. His tightly set expression not only as he left the field but also after sitting on the bench fully reflected the day’s disappointments.

Lee Kang-in started in the fifth round of the 2026–2027 Spanish La Liga match against Real Sociedad, held at Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastian, Spain, on the 14th (Korean time). After recording one shot and a 68% pass success rate, he was substituted in the 15th minute of the second half and left the field. This marked his third consecutive appearance limited to around 60 minutes, following substitutions in the 14th minute of the second half against Athletic Club (Bilbao, Spain) on the 5th and against Liverpool (England) on the 10th.

His presence was not entirely absent. In the fifth minute of the first half, Lee Kang-in threatened the opponent’s goal with a sharp shot. The cross that led to Morten Hjulmand’s header, which narrowly missed the target, also came from Lee Kang-in. These two moments were among Atletico Madrid’s most dangerous first-half scenes identified by Diego Simeone and local media after the match. Lee Kang-in was at the center of it all.

However, his influence waned in the second half. Throughout the day, the entire Atletico Madrid squad struggled under Real Sociedad’s intense pressure and failed to create any significant opportunities. Consequently, in the 15th minute of the second half, Lee Kang-in left the field simultaneously with two other players. Coach Simeone explained the reasoning behind his substitution: “Lee Kang-in found himself receiving the ball while constantly facing away from goal.”

What stood out was Lee Kang-in’s reaction. His expression as he slowly walked off the field upon seeing the substitution signal was dark. Even while heading toward the bench, Lee Kang-in sat down immediately without any interaction with his teammates or Haifa Eve. The camera captured Lee Kang-in catching his breath with a gloomy expression for an extended period on the local broadcast screen.

Coincidentally, Atletico Madrid seized control after making substitutions. They earned a penalty kick following an opponent’s handball foul, breaking the 0-0 deadlock, and added two more goals through counterattacks in the final moments of the second half. While it may be premature to definitively attribute this turnaround solely to the substituted players’ performances, Atletico Madrid ultimately shifted the momentum after making changes and secured a decisive 3-0 victory.

Following the match, harsh criticism continued to target Lee Kang-in. On the football statistics platform FootMob, Lee Kang-in received a rating of 6.5, the lowest among all Atletico Madrid players who started the game. Spanish media outlets Marca and AS also awarded him one star (★) and one spade (♠), respectively, after the match. Given that ratings range from zero to three symbols, this effectively represents the lowest possible level. This stands in stark contrast to the fact that most other players received two symbols.

Notably, Spanish media outlet Marca specifically singled out Lee Kang-in in its post-match review article, stating: “He touches the ball too much. His strength has ironically become a weakness.” The outlet added: “While Lee Kang-in doesn’t lose possession during pressure relief situations, problems arise when speed is needed to advance the attack. Atletico Madrid is missing Antoine Griezmann’s one-touch play.” The analysis suggests that by using individual skills to break through opponent pressure upon receiving the ball, he extends his time in possession, and this style becomes a disadvantage for the team when rapid attacks are required.

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*This content was translated by AI.