Lee Kang-in of Atletico Madrid enters the match in the second half of the 2026 Coupang Play Series friendly between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 9th. Yonhap News
National team midfielder Lee Kang-in played his first match in an Atletico Madrid jersey, but the Spanish club failed to close out the Seoul friendly, losing to England’s Manchester City in a comeback defeat.
Atletico Madrid took the lead through 16-year-old defender Jorge Dominguez in the 43rd minute of the 2026 Coupang Play Series held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 9th. But Omar Marmoush scored twice in the second half, and Rayan Ait-Nouri added a clinching goal in the 90th minute as Atletico lost 1-3.
Lee Kang-in Makes Atletico Debut in Seoul Wearing No. 7
The most anticipated moment of the day was Lee Kang-in’s Atletico Madrid debut. Lee made his first appearance for his new club after his signing was officially announced on the 25th of last month. Atletico Madrid announced it had signed Lee, who previously played for France’s Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), on a contract running through June 30, 2031. The transfer fee is 35 million euros, with an additional 5 million euros possible depending on options, according to reports.
Lee was named among the substitutes and entered the pitch in the 64th minute, after the team had fallen behind 1-2. Taking over the No. 7 shirt previously worn by Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City), Lee made his first appearance before Atletico Madrid fans in a jersey bearing the Korean name “Kang-in.”
Players from both teams took the field wearing jerseys with their surnames written in Korean script.
Immediately after coming on, Lee took his first touch with a left-footed free kick from the right of the penalty arc. The ball narrowly went wide of the goal. In the 76th minute, he connected with a cutback pass with a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.
Jorge Dominguez of Atletico Madrid celebrates after scoring the opening goal in the first half of the Coupang Play Series match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon. News1
Atletico Score First, but Man City Fire Three in the Second Half
Manchester City controlled the early flow of the game. City targeted Atletico’s flanks through Savinho and Antoine Semenyo. In the 23rd minute, Savinho attempted a left-footed shot from the right of the penalty arc but narrowly missed the goal. In the 40th minute, Phil Foden shot with his left foot from the right of the penalty arc but was stopped by the goalkeeper.
The opening goal, however, went to Atletico. In a scramble following a corner kick in the 43rd minute, Morten Hjulmand played the ball toward the goalmouth, and Dominguez finished with his right foot to find the back of City’s net. With the goal from Dominguez, born in 2009, Atletico ended the first half leading 1-0.
City launched their counterattack from the start of the second half. In the 57th minute, Semenyo revived the ball on the opponent’s left flank, beat a defender with a piece of skill and cut into the penalty box. He then delivered a pass toward goal, and Marmoush rushed in to shoot and level the score.
Just two minutes later, City scored the go-ahead goal. Once again, Semenyo was the starting point of the attack. Semenyo penetrated the space behind the opposing defense, moved into the left of the penalty area and played the ball to the center, where Marmoush ran in to finish with his right foot.
Atletico made sweeping substitutions in an attempt to fight back, including bringing on Lee in the 64th minute, but could not turn the tide. In the 90th minute, Ait-Nouri broke into the space behind the defense and fired a left-footed shot for an additional goal, sealing the result.
The 2026 Coupang Play Series friendly between Manchester City and Atletico Madrid is held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 9th. Yonhap News
Seoul Rematch After Three Years — This Time City Prevail
The Seoul showdown between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City came around again after three years. Atletico had beaten City 2-1 in a preseason friendly held in Seoul in 2023. But in this rematch, they scored first only to concede three goals in the second half and lose.
City won both matches on this trip to Korea. On the 5th, at the same Seoul World Cup Stadium, they beat the K League All-Stars “Team K League” 3-1 with consecutive goals from Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Divine Mubama, before going on to defeat Atletico Madrid.
City, led by manager Enzo Maresca, faced Atletico with their available squad, as Erling Haaland, Rodri and other players who had competed at the 2026 World Cup in North America were unable to travel to Korea. Marmoush led the line, with Semenyo, Foden and Savinho behind him. Reijnders and Mateo Kovacic partnered in midfield, and Gianluigi Donnarumma guarded the goal.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid deployed Carlos Martin and Ademola Lookman up front. Rodrigo Mendoza, Oved Vargas, Hjulmand and Koke featured in midfield, with Jan Oblak in goal.
Meanwhile, 50,078 spectators filled Seoul World Cup Stadium on the day. The match between City and Team K League on the 5th drew 28,036 spectators. With the heat having eased somewhat and Lee Kang-in’s Atletico Madrid debut also on the card, the attendance rose sharply.