20.08.2026 08:01
Atletico Madrid started the season with 3 points by defeating Malaga 2-0 in the first week of LaLiga, while Alex Baena's spectacular free-kick goal was one of the most notable moments of the match.
In the first week of LaLiga, Atletico Madrid and Malaga faced each other at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium. Atletico Madrid defeated their opponent 2-0 and took 3 points from the first match of the season. The home team's goals were scored by Kang-In Lee and Alex Baena.
The capital team will travel to Villarreal for the second week of LaLiga. Malaga, which returned to Spain's top-tier football league after 8 years, will face Deportivo at home.
KOKE STARTED HIS 18TH SEASON IN THE STARTING LINEUP
Koke, one of Atletico Madrid's iconic figures, started the Malaga match in the starting lineup. The 34-year-old footballer thus stepped into his 18th season with the club's first team. Koke, who began wearing the Atletico Madrid jersey in 2009, holds the position of the player with the most appearances in club history. The experienced midfielder continues to lead his team as captain in the new season as well.
MALAGA'S 8-YEAR LONGING ENDED
Malaga played a LaLiga match for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The Andalusian team, which had fallen to the third division after being relegated from the top level of Spanish football, rose again and took its place in LaLiga for the 2026-27 season. In their first match back in LaLiga, Malaga left the Atletico Madrid away game with a 2-0 defeat.
SIMEONE REACHED HIS 16TH LA LIGA SEASON WITH ATLETICO MADRID
Diego Simeone, who has been the head coach of Atletico Madrid since December 2011, began his 16th LaLiga season at the helm of the club with the Malaga match.
The Argentine coach is spending his 15th full season at Atletico Madrid in the 2026-27 season. Simeone also maintains the distinction of being the longest-serving head coach currently in charge of the same team in Europe's top 5 leagues.