Atlético Madrid Suffers 0–3 Defeat in Bilbao
Atlético Madrid walked out of San Mamés with a 0–3 defeat and a long list of regrets, not least for Lee Kang‑in’s near miss that might have changed the mood of the night.
The South Korean midfielder started for Atlético in this fourth round clash of the Spanish championship and looked sharp early on. Drifting into pockets between the lines, he produced the visitors’ clearest moment before the break: a right‑footed strike that beat the goalkeeper but crashed against the post. It was one of two Atlético efforts that rattled the woodwork in the first half, fleeting reminders that the game could have taken a different turn.
Then the second half arrived, and the match slipped away.
Bilbao punished Atlético’s defensive lapses with three goals after the interval, as individual errors and loose organisation at the back opened the door. What had been a tight contest turned into a one‑sided scoreline, the visitors’ promising opening buried under their own mistakes. Lee’s influence faded with the team’s control; he was substituted in the 58th minute.
Spanish outlet El Desmarque handed Lee a rating of 5, highlighting his energetic start and composure on the ball in the move that led to his shot against the post. The same report underlined how his impact dwindled as Atlético lost their grip on the game.
Mixed verdicts in Atlético’s report card
The ratings painted a blunt picture of a side that never truly recovered after the break.
The highest marks in the Atlético squad were only 6 out of 10, shared by Marc Pubill, Morten Hjulmand, Pablo Barrios and Álex Baena. Pubill earned praise for his defensive work in the first half, helping to keep Bilbao at bay before the collapse. Hjulmand and Barrios were recognised for steady performances in midfield, trying to give Atlético some structure and continuity in possession. Baena’s 6 came for his willingness to take responsibility in attack and his attempts to threaten with shots from distance.
At the other end of the scale, Jan Oblak and Álex Grimaldo received a harsh 3. El Desmarque noted that Oblak did not register a single save on the night, a damning statistic for a goalkeeper in a 3–0 defeat. Grimaldo struggled badly in his duel with Robert Navarro, repeatedly exposed down his flank as Bilbao drove forward.
Ademola Lookman and Giuliano Simeone also came away with 3s, their attacking contributions swallowed up by Atlético’s broader problems. Marcos Llorente fared slightly better with a 4, but could not tilt the match back in his team’s favour.
Cristian Romero, making his Atlético debut after coming off the bench, was given a 5, as was Julián Álvarez. Both showed flashes but were ultimately dragged into a game that had already swung decisively towards the hosts.
A night that began with the thud of Lee Kang‑in’s shot against the post ended with the echo of a heavy defeat. For Atlético, the question now is whether this is just an early‑season stumble or the first warning sign of a deeper fault line in their campaign.
