Atletico Madrid climbed to the top of the La Liga table on August 30, 2026, after a 3-1 victory away against Sevilla, fueled by an early assist from Lee Kang-in. Manager Diego Simeone deployed the team in a 4-4-2 formation at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, securing their second win of the league campaign.
How Lee Kang-in Set the Tone at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
Atletico Madrid seized control of the match in the opening minutes against Sevilla FC during the 2026-2027 La Liga third-round fixture. Just four minutes into the contest, Lee Kang-in picked up possession on the right flank and drove toward the opponent’s territory. He spotted a teammate cutting through the defensive line and delivered a sharp through ball into the penalty area.
Alex Baena ran onto the pass and finished calmly with a right-footed shot to break the scoreless deadlock. The opening goal marked Lee’s first assist of the current league campaign, following his opening-day goal against Malaga on August 20.
First-Half Barrage Builds a Three-Goal Margin
With the initial lead secured, Atletico continued to pressure the Sevilla defense throughout the opening half. In the 26th minute, Pablo Barrios moved the ball centrally before sliding a pass to Ademola Lookman on the left side of the penalty area. Lookman collected the ball and drove a right-footed shot into the lower left corner of the net.
The visiting side extended their advantage further in the 33rd minute.
Tactical Changes and Defensive Resilience Secure the Points
Sevilla responded after the interval by increasing their possession and intensifying their attacking pressure. Miguel Sierra broke through for the hosts in the 21st minute of the second half, connecting on a left-footed bicycle kick from a cross on the right wing. Jan Oblak managed to get a left hand to the shot, but the ball carried into the upper portion of the net.
Faced with mounting pressure, Atletico shifted focus toward defensive organization. Lee contributed heavily on the defensive side of the ball, covering the right wing and the area just outside his own penalty box before being substituted in the 27th minute of the second half for Koke.
Match Statistics and League Standings After Three Rounds
Statistical evaluations underscored the efficiency of Lee’s performance during his 72 minutes on the pitch. Football statistics platform FotMob awarded Lee a match rating of 8.0, praising his overall contribution across both attack and defense.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goal Difference | Points | League Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atletico Madrid | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 | 1st |
| Sevilla FC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | Not Reported | 6 | 5th |
The victory elevates Atletico Madrid to the top of the La Liga table with seven points from three matches and a plus-four goal differential. Sevilla sits fifth in the standings with six points following their first defeat of the season.
