Atlético de Madrid 2-0 Málaga: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
La Liga Matchday 1 · Wednesday 19 August 2026 · Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid · referee A. Cordero Vega · full time
Full time: Atlético de Madrid 2-0 Málaga
Atlético de Madrid 2-0 Málaga: Atlético de Madrid took the points in La Liga Matchday 1 on Wednesday 19 August 2026 at Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The goals: Kang-in Lee 70', Álex Baena 85'.
How Atlético de Madrid won it
Atlético de Madrid struck first through Kang-in Lee in the 70th minute, set up by Dávid Hancko. Álex Baena made it 2-0 to Atlético de Madrid in the 85th minute.
It was 0-0 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
The referee, A. Cordero Vega, showed 5 yellow cards: 2 to Atlético de Madrid and 3 to Málaga.
Atlético de Madrid: D. Simeone, 4-1-4-1 · Málaga: J. Funes Arjona, 4-1-4-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 0.35 for Atlético de Madrid and 0.97 for Málaga.
Atlético de Madrid scored about 1.7 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Atlético de Madrid had 6 shots on target, Málaga 1.
Atlético de Madrid had 53% of the ball and turned it into the win.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Atlético de Madrid came into it with 7 La Liga matches played, scoring 2.3 and conceding 1.0 a match, with 1.72 expected goals for and 1.05 against, and had won 71% of their matches.
Málaga came into it with 8 La Liga matches played, scoring 0.5 and conceding 1.6 a match, with 0.87 expected goals for and 1.78 against, and had won 0% of their matches.
Atlético de Madrid vs Málaga: the match in numbers
| Atlético de Madrid | Match statistics | Málaga |
|---|---|---|
| 53% | Ball possession | 47% |
| 0.35 | Expected goals (xG) | 0.97 |
| 15 | Total shots | 5 |
| 6 | Shots on target | 1 |
| 3 | Big chances | 0 |
| 520 | Total passes | 467 |
| 88% | Pass accuracy | 85% |
| 6 | Corners | 1 |
| 17 | Fouls | 11 |
| 2 | Offsides | 2 |
| 20 | Tackles | 21 |
| 1 | Saves | 4 |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 3 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Dávid Hancko (Atlético de Madrid), rated 8.2 by Sportmonks, with 1 assist.
Atlético de Madrid
- Dávid Hancko 8.2 1 assist
- Kang-in Lee 7.8 1 goal
- Pablo Barrios 7.3
- Álex Baena 7.3 1 goal
- Robin Le Normand 7.2
Málaga
- Dani Lorenzo 7.0
- Rafita Garrido 7.0
- Carlos Dotor 7.0
- Carlos Puga 6.9
- Einar Galilea 6.9
The lowest-rated starter was Chupe at 6.2. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Atlético de Madrid: Deportivo Alavés vs Atlético de Madrid Saturday 10 October 2026 · La Liga
- Málaga: Málaga vs Real Sociedad Sunday 18 October 2026 · La Liga
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Atlético de Madrid vs Málaga
What was the score in Atlético de Madrid vs Málaga?
Atlético de Madrid 2-0 Málaga (half-time 0-0), La Liga, Wednesday 19 August 2026.
Who scored in Atlético de Madrid vs Málaga?
Kang-in Lee 70', Álex Baena 85'.
Did Moneyball predict Atlético de Madrid vs Málaga correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Atlético de Madrid vs Málaga?
Dávid Hancko, rated 8.2 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Atlético de Madrid vs Málaga?
A. Cordero Vega.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
Moneyball Odds is a statistical analysis site, not a bookmaker. No model predicts football reliably. For readers aged 18 and over.