"Team play flows through Lee Kang-in's mind one second ahead" — Spanish media also marvel... "Excellent" praise for the assist that set up the opening goal against Manchester United

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Praise has been pouring in from local Spanish media regarding the performance of Lee Kang-in, the "ace" of the South Korean national football team and a player for Atletico Madrid, in their match against Manchester United (England).

Atletico secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the second match of the league phase of the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League on the 14th (Korean time) at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain.

Lee Kang-in, who started the match, led the attack from the front line alongside Julian Alvarez. Atletico's formation was a 4-4-2.

Atletico scored the opening goal less than one minute into the match.

The attack began with Lee Kang-in. After receiving the ball behind the halfway line, Lee Kang-in delivered a precise through pass to Alex Baena, who was making an overlapping run down the left flank. A wide-open space lay ahead of Baena.

Baena controlled the ball and drove into the penalty area before passing it to Pablo Barrios, who was surging in from the opposite side. Barrios shot without hesitation, sending the ball past the goalkeeper and into the net.

Local Spanish media also highly rated Lee Kang-in's passing play.

First, the Spanish outlet AS stated, "Team play flows through Lee Kang-in's mind one second ahead," praising his ability to quickly read the situation and select the next move in managing the game.

It further explained, "As time went on, he struggled to stay involved in the match, but whenever he was part of the play, he was always shrewd."

However, it added, "Although Lee Kang-in moved into central areas, he did not occupy as significant a role in the game as he had hoped."

Lee Kang-in was substituted off in the 61st minute of the second half alongside Barrios, who had scored the opening goal. Nevertheless, when the two players left the pitch, the home fans applauded them.

Another Spanish outlet, La Vanguardia, also focused on the scene of Atletico's opening goal.

The outlet noted, "Lee Kang-in's through pass into open space found Baena," and described how "Baena stopped in the middle of the storm and calmly linked up with Barrios for the goal, as if he were sipping a cup of coffee."

In particular, regarding the sequence leading to the opening goal from Lee Kang-in to Baena and then to Barrios, it exclaimed that it was "a goal crafted in a laboratory."

Indeed, Lee Kang-in displayed stable passing play against Manchester United. In 61 minutes on the pitch, he completed 32 of his 35 passes, recording a high success rate of 91%. He succeeded on two of his three long balls and recorded a total of 45 touches and one successful dribble.

His rating from football statistics site FotMob was 6.7.

Atletico maintained its lead thereafter. In the 74th minute of the second half, Manchester United defender Leny Yoro was sent off for fouling Jonathan David in a last-ditch defensive situation.

With a numerical advantage, Atletico added a second goal in the 79th minute. After David's shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, Ademola Lookman pounced on the rebound and pushed it into the net.

Ultimately, Atletico secured a decisive 2-0 victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original