The first half was a careful chess match, tied 0-0 with few clear looks and just 0.10 xG for Atlético and 0.06 xG for Málaga. Both lined up in a 4-1-4-1 and largely canceled each other out in the middle third. Atlético led corners 3-0 and tried to stretch the pitch with early crosses, but Málaga’s back line cleared their lines well. The visitors even edged possession 51-49 before the break, keeping the hosts honest. There were two bookings before halftime, with Dávid Hancko cautioned on 15 minutes and Jorge Domínguez on 37. Carlos Puga saw yellow for Málaga just before the interval too. Chances were limited to four total Atlético shots and two from Málaga, none of which felt like true momentum changers. It set the stage for a second half that needed a spark.

That spark arrived with Atlético’s changes. Marcos Llorente entered at halftime to add legs and tidy distribution, and on 57 minutes Kang-in Lee and Alex Baena joined the action. Málaga reshuffled later, but by then the tempo and territory had tilted red and white. The breakthrough came on 70 minutes via Lee, and an 85th-minute free-kick from Baena wrapped things up. With six minutes added, Atlético calmly saw it out for a professional opening win.

Second-half control, smart subs, and the decisive moments

After the restart, Atlético grabbed 58 percent possession and out-passed Málaga 288-215. Final third entries told a similar story at 36-20, with the hosts spending far more time in advanced areas. Expected goals swung with it, rising to 0.72-0.10 in the second half alone. Atlético fired 11 shots after the break and put five on target, while Málaga managed three attempts with one on goal. The hosts also earned three more corners to Málaga’s one, reflecting the territorial shift. Simeone’s triple move at 57 minutes, bringing on Lee, Baena and Giuliano Simeone, put fresh quality and directness between the lines. Llorente’s earlier introduction made the buildup cleaner and widened angles for switches.

The opener at 70 minutes was built on composure and timing. Dávid Hancko carried and combined through the left half-space before threading the assist into Lee’s stride. Lee adjusted onto his left and picked the high-left corner past Alfonso Herrero, whose positioning had been excellent all night. Málaga stayed compact and sought a late push, but the second goal arrived from a set piece. On 85 minutes, Baena’s right-footed free-kick flew into the high-left side, again beating Herrero. It was a backbreaker for a Málaga side that had defended stoutly for long stretches.

What the numbers say

Atlético’s 2-0 scoreline came with a clear statistical backbone. They led total shots 15-5 and shots on target 6-1, and posted a 0.82-0.15 edge in xG. Their shot quality at the finish was notable, with a 2.44-0.02 advantage in expected goals on target. They created two big chances and, to be fair, also missed two, suggesting the margin might have grown earlier. The hosts also hit the woodwork once, a reminder that pressure was constant. Touches in the opposition box finished 29-19 in Atlético’s favor, which fit the eye test of sustained second-half pressure. In the air, they dominated 13/18 duels compared to Málaga’s 5/18, while on the ground the split went Málaga’s way 47/86.

Crossing and entries also underlined the trend. Atlético completed 5 of 14 crosses against Málaga’s 0 of 2 and logged 72 final-third entries to 45. Málaga’s defensive workload was heavy: 23 clearances to Atlético’s 13 and 13 interceptions to 9. Goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero was excellent, making four saves and preventing 0.44 goals by Sofascore’s model. Atlético’s average team score landed at 7.86 against Málaga’s 6.78, a fair reflection of the control shift after halftime. The match had its bite too, with Atlético committing 17 fouls to Málaga’s 11 and five total yellow cards shown.

Match MVP: Dávid Hancko’s all-around clinic

Dávid Hancko was named Player of the Match with an 8.7 Sofascore Rating, and it was hard to argue. The left-sided defender served up the assist for Kang-in Lee’s opener and ran the game from build-up to back line. He completed 91 of 95 passes, including 8 of 11 long balls, constantly breaking lines or switching play into space. He won 7 duels, went 3/3 on tackles, and added 2 interceptions and 2 clearances. With 112 touches and 21 ball carries for a total carrying distance of roughly 125 meters, he offered progression and control. He even rattled the woodwork and chipped in a key pass with 0.29 expected assists. Physically tuned in, he drew two fouls, committed one, and took a first-half booking without it changing his tempo. It was the kind of performance that anchors a clean sheet while directly powering the winning goal.

Other Atlético standouts added the end product. Kang-in Lee came off the bench to score with one shot on target from three attempts and went 3/3 in tackles for an impactful cameo, earning an 8.1 Sofascore Rating. Alex Baena struck a sweet free-kick and posted a 7.7. Pablo Barrios knitted midfield together with a 7.7, while Koke’s 7.4 reflected steady distribution and control before he made way. For Málaga, Herrero’s 7.8 underlined a strong night in goal, and Carlos Dotor’s 7.5 captured tireless two-way work in midfield.

LaLiga context and where to dive deeper on Sofascore

Round 1 in LaLiga is all about setting tone, and Atlético’s second-half surge did just that. The hosts finished with 53 percent possession overall and a 522-468 pass lead, a neat summary of control built on patience then precision. Both coaches set up in 4-1-4-1, but the bench made the difference as the match wore on. Atlético’s aerial dominance and crossing output forced Málaga into a reactive posture late. The visitors still had their moments, especially across ground duels and interceptions, and they stayed in it until Baena’s set piece. Referee Adrian Cordero Vega added four minutes at the end of the first half and six at the end of the second, but there was no late twist.

If you want every touch, duel and carry mapped, head to the Sofascore match page. You’ll find player heat maps, live momentum charts, xG and xGOT breakdowns, and each football action plotted. It’s the best way to dig into why Hancko’s numbers stand out and how Atlético turned control into goals. With a long season ahead, these patterns are worth tracking from week to week. For fixtures and standings across Spain’s top flight, the LaLiga competition page is your home base. As openers go, this was comfortable, controlled and efficient from the hosts.