Lee Kang-in made his first official start for Atlético Madrid during their 2-2 La Liga home draw against Villarreal on August 23, 2026, recording a team-high six shots during his 66 minutes on the pitch.
Atlético Madrid Held to 2-2 Draw by Villarreal
Atlético Madrid entered the fixture at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano looking to build on a 2-0 opening-match victory over Malaga on August 20, 2026. The side had to settle for a point after conceding two goals solely from penalty kicks. Despite controlling periods of the match, the hosts were unable to secure consecutive victories in the early stages of the 2026–2027 La Liga campaign.
Lee Kang-in Leads Team in Shots During Debut Start
Deploying alongside Lookman in a two-man attacking partnership, the 25-year-old Lee played aggressively in search of a breakthrough before being substituted for Pablo Barrios in the 66th minute. Lee registered four shots in the first half alone. Within the opening minute of the match, he collected a pass on the right side of the penalty area and fired an early attempt wide of the goal.
In the 15th minute, Lee delivered a penetrating pass into the box for Giuliano Simeone, whose turning shot deflected off a defender. Lee tested the Villarreal defense again in the 34th minute, driving into the area to collect a pass before unleashing a left-footed strike that missed the target. He maintained his offensive pressure after halftime, firing consecutive shots in the 49th and 54th minutes that were blocked by the visiting backline.
Match Ratings and Upcoming Fixtures
Following the 2-2 stalemate—which featured goals from Marc Pubill and Giuliano Simeone for Atlético before Villarreal capitalized from the penalty spot—football statistics platform WhoScored.com awarded Lee a rating of 6.83. Among Atlético players, Giuliano Simeone earned the highest rating of 7.72 after assisting Pubill’s opener and scoring a late equalizer.
Atlético Madrid will look to return to winning ways on August 30, 2026, when they travel to face Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium for the third round of La Liga fixtures.