Atlético de Madrid opens the 2026/27 season today against Málaga, who return to the First Division eight years later, in a duel that will serve to measure the credentials of both projects from day one. The rojiblancos, with several new faces such as Grimaldo, Hjulmand, Kang-in Lee, and Lookman, start as favorites and want to begin the season with a victory in front of their fans, although so far they have not been able to create clear chances against Málaga. The Andalusian team, on the other hand, faces the return to the elite with a young squad and a lot of enthusiasm, aware of the difficulty of the visit to the Metropolitano. Simeone has already confirmed his starting eleven, while Julián Álvarez is left out of the squad amid uncertainty about his future
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End of the first half!
Yellow card for Carlos Puga! Arnau Ortiz was charging forward and, after getting past a first opponent, was finally brought down by the right-back of the Málaga side.
OBLAK IN TWO STAGES!! The Atleti goalkeeper appeared to save the situation! The action was invalidated due to a prior positional offside, but Málaga caused real danger. First, repelling a shot from Chupe to his left side before making a colossal save with one hand to David Larrubia on the rebound, who had aimed at the left post of the keeper. The Slovak keeper showed his full repertoire.
What a clash between Alfonso Herrero and Rafita! A dangerous ball served inside the area for the arrival of Carlos Martín, who could not contest the ball due to the presence of the goalkeeper and defender, with the former securing the ball but colliding with his teammate. Rafita hit the ground hard but seems able to continue without problems.
Alfonso Herrero catches the shot in the form of a pass from Arnau Ortiz, who tried to extend the action after a cross from the left wing. The Málaga goalkeeper was alert to end the attacking sequence. So far, little involvement from the visiting keeper, which is good news for Málaga, who are close to completing the first half without conceding dangerous attempts on their goal.
Yellow card for Jorge Domínguez! The Atlético de Madrid defender stopped the counterattack, preventing Joaquín Muñoz’s offensive action from continuing. The second Atlético player to be booked, both defenders. Let’s see if this accelerates Diego Pablo Simeone’s moves in the match.
Alfonso Herrero repels Rodrigo Mendoza’s shot! It’s the first shot on target of the match. We had to wait more than half an hour for an attempt that, arriving very centrally at Málaga’s goal, was punched away by the Málaga keeper. No trouble for him.
What a detail from Arnau Ortiz! With a backheel, he tried to thread a pass inside the area, beating two defenders but not reaching his target thanks to the attentive look of Carlos Puga, who perfectly intercepted. Rodrigo Mendoza would have been left alone with everything in his favor to put Atlético de Madrid ahead.
Foul by Joaquín Muñoz, who sought two shots inside the area, the first hitting David Hancko’s leg and intercepting Málaga’s dangerous attempt. The referee signaled the action that annulled the winger’s subsequent shot. The first time Málaga has managed to enter the area and unsettle Atlético de Madrid’s defense.
Hydration break granted by the Cantabrian referee for this first half. The heat in the capital requires this usual short pause at the start of the light summer. Atlético has more possession and has had some promising arrivals, but so far a correct presentation from Málaga, who, although they have not shown much in attack, have not suffered too much either.
Málaga blocks in defense! Set play by Atlético de Madrid, who, with a free kick on the edge of the area, opts for a back pass for a second-row shot by Rodrigo Mendoza, who is met by a quick reaction from a Málaga player. The action was very promising but perfectly read by the visiting team.
Offensive foul by Málaga, who wasted the set-piece action. Juan Funes’ team tried a tactical play but, after two short passes, the referee signaled the foul committed in an area where the ball was not. Again, Atlético has more possession and the Andalusians struggle to turn the tables.
Rafita clears successfully! Daniel Martínez progressed well down the left side, winning the byline and delivering a cross to the far post, whose shot was snatched by Málaga’s full-back just as Carlos Martín appeared behind, licking his lips at the chance of a shot that had left Alfonso Herrero out of position. Good approach from Atleti.
Yellow card for David Hancko! It was Atlético de Madrid’s third foul, and the Slovak was punished after a foul from behind on Carlos Puga. The defender tried to withdraw his leg but ended up hitting the Málaga player. First card of the match.
Shot from David Larrubia inside the area that goes wide to the left of Jan Oblak’s goal. Málaga started very comfortably through the middle, ending the action with a low pass from the right wing that Málaga’s ’10’ failed to convert. Juan Funes’ team is trying to break into the monopoly Atlético de Madrid has established in this first quarter of an hour.
Málaga is having a hard time keeping possession, and the match has been a constant sequence of recovery and attack by Atlético de Madrid, who so far have not managed to create a clear goal chance. A complex start so far for Málaga.
David Hancko’s delivery goes past! The Slovak’s attacking run ends with a cross behind the defense that no Atlético player reached. The second action, ending with a cross seeking Ademola Lookman, caught the Nigerian offside at the time of his header.
First long possession by Málaga, who must figure out how to beat a team that is not only one of the usual favorites for the top of the league despite their rotations today but also a very compact team that does not allow comfortable circulation for their rival to penetrate and gain ground.
Clear foul by Carlos Martín to stop Málaga’s counterattack. We can already see how the rojiblanco team forms with a 4-3-3 scheme compared to the expected and more usual 4-4-2. Carlos Martín and Arnau Ortiz share the attacking wings, with Ademola Lookman acting as a ‘9’ in function. In midfield, Koke acts as an anchor, with Barrios and Mendoza more free.
The match kicks off at the Estadio Metropolitano! The first ball of the game is played from the center circle by the home team, Atlético de Madrid.
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Emotional tribute to the international players for Spain. National anthem precedes the entrance of David Villa with the World Cup and the subsequent entrance of the players who were part of the Spanish expedition in winning the second star. A guard of honor for them in recognition of their achievement.
The players are already entering the pitch! Leading the parade is the Cantabrian referee, Adrián Cordero Vega, accompanied by his team of assistants. The ball will roll very soon at the rojiblanco stadium! LaLiga is back at the Metropolitano!
02. Atlético de Madrid lost to Espanyol in their opening LaLiga 2025/26 match (2-1), the only defeat they have suffered in their debut in their 14 full seasons with Diego Pablo Simeone. The rojiblanco team has not lost their league opener two years in a row since 1999.
01. Juan Funes will debut as a coach in LaLiga. None of Málaga’s last three coaches won their first match in the competition (1D 2L), the last to do so being Javier Gracia in August 2014 (1-0 vs Athletic Club).
Let’s now look at some data about the match!
The referee for this match at the Estadio Metropolitano will be the Santander-born Adrián Cordero Vega, from the La Rioja Referees Committee. He will be supported in the VAR room by Iván Caparrós (Valencia). Assistants Israel Bárcena and Samuel García.
Málaga Club de Fútbol bench: Haitam Abaida, Juan Cruz, Ramón Enriquez, Eneko Jauregi, Juan Fernández, José Salinas, Julen Lobete, Rafa Rodríguez, Álex Pastor, Josef Otunenche, and Carlos López.
One of the main men to watch in the Málaga club starts, the Córdoba striker ‘Chupe’, who scored 24 goals and provided five assists last season and was one of the main architects of the promotion. Undoubtedly, his staying in the white and blue squad is one of the best news for 2026/27. On the other hand, Málaga presents a wide list of absences for the match, highlighting the absence of Fernando Calero, who joined this summer window from Espanyol. Moussa Diarra, Juanpe, Diego Murillo, and Adrián Niño will also be out due to injury. Aarón Ochoa is suspended.
This is the first lineup chosen by Juan Funes for Málaga’s return to the First Division (4-4-2): Alfonso Herrero, Rafita, Einar Galilea, Ángel Recio, Carlos Puga, Joaquín Muñoz, Izan Merino, Dani Lorenzo, David Larrubia, Carlos Dotor, Chupe
Club Atlético de Madrid bench: Álex Baena, Johnny Cardoso, Miguel Cubo, Jorge Castillo, José María Giménez, Álex Grimaldo, Morten Hjulmand, Kang-in Lee, Marcos Llorente, Juan Musso, Marc Pubill, and Giuliano Simeone.
The Atlético coach presents a starting eleven full of youth players and without internationals or signings. Julián Alvarez and Obed Vargas have been left out by technical decision, while Thomas Lemar, ‘Cuti’ Romero, and Alexander Sorloth are out due to injury.
The lineup that we will classify as preseason that Diego Pablo Simeone has for Atlético de Madrid’s presentation in the 26/27 campaign (4-4-2): Jan Oblak – Dani Martinez, Dávid Hancko, Robin Le Normand, Jorge Domínguez – Rodrigo Mendoza, Pablo Barrios, Koke, Carlos Martín – Ademola Lookman, Arnau Ortiz.
We already have the lineups of both teams!
Only twice in the last ten occasions has Málaga managed to win at the rojiblanco stadium, losing in their last and only appearance there in 2017 (1-0). The last time Málaga won in the capital was in May 2011 (0-3), with goals from Salomon Rondón, Julio Baptista, and Enzo Maresca.
It will not be easy against one of the big contenders of the championship like Atleti, but the Andalusian team hopes to do so under a clear identity not only in style, with Juan Funes having installed an offensive and solidary team, but also in terms of squad, adding reinforcements like José Salinas, Carlos Dotor, Fernando Calero, and Juan Cruz who already know the category and hope to add to the synergy of the rest of the block, with the latter two having been formed in Málaga’s youth ranks.
For their part, Málaga arrives in the capital on day one of their return to the First Division, 8 years and 3 months after the moment they definitively lost the category in May 2018. A historic day for Málaga fans, where they hope to lay the first stone towards a goal, survival, which they will seek from the first minute the ball rolls again.
With these moves, and despite some resentment towards the presence in the squad of Julián Alvarez, who declared wanting to leave the club this window, the rojiblanco team has gathered talent according to the needs of their game, so the best version of a team that last season relied on the magic of Antoine Griezmann in key moments, who will no longer be there to get them out of trouble, is expected.
To unlock the middle and find spaces, Kang-in Lee has been added, while to strengthen the full-back position, a regular like Alejandro Grimaldo has been added, who scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists across all competitions in the last two seasons with his shooting and forward runs. The midfield block has been reinforced with the Dane Morten Hjulmand to provide balance, although the signing most synonymous with ‘Cholo’ is Cristian Romero, who arrived last and is expected to be an unmovable element in his scheme.
The rojiblanco team will open the championship with a less usual lineup than expected, given the low rhythm of most of their internationals, who have recently rejoined the rest of the squad’s routine. However, this does not prevent talking about an Atlético de Madrid that has reinforced itself knowingly in this market, introducing an important change of players aimed at strengthening the coach’s way of working.
Hello everyone! Welcome to this match corresponding to the first day of LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27! We have traveled to the Estadio Metropolitano, where Atlético de Madrid will inaugurate a new and ambitious season under Diego Pablo Simeone’s command, receiving one of the newly promoted teams and contenders to be the surprise, Málaga CF, under a project that, above all, bets on the block that brought them to the First Division, and to which only a few touches have been given from the sporting area.
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