Lee Kang-in played 60 minutes as Atlético Madrid snapped their losing streak with a convincing away win against Real Sociedad.
Atlético Madrid secured a 3-0 victory in the fifth round of the 2026-27 La Liga at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián, Spain, on Monday.
After recent losses to Athletic Club (0-3) in the league and Liverpool (1-2) in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League, Atlético Madrid bounced back with a much-needed win. The result puts them fourth in the league standings with 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss (10 points).
Lee Kang-in started in an attacking midfield role but failed to register any offensive contributions during his hour-long stint on the pitch. So far this season, he has tallied 1 goal and 1 assist.
Atlético Madrid initially struggled to create clear-cut chances against a stubborn Real Sociedad defense. However, their persistence paid off in the 39th minute when they were awarded a penalty for a handball. Alejandro Grimaldo stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick to give Atlético the lead.
Building on their advantage, Atlético Madrid ramped up the pressure. Jonathan David doubled their lead in the 45th minute of the second half. The icing on the cake came in stoppage time when Julián Simeone capitalized on a counter-attack to seal the 3-0 victory.
In a subplot to the main action, Lee Kang-in’s close friend Takefusa Kubo, who plays for Real Sociedad, started on the bench and was introduced as a substitute in the 72nd minute. This meant the anticipated face-off between the two didn’t materialize. Kubo has featured in 5 matches this season but is yet to open his account in terms of goals or assists.