South Korean national team midfielder Lee Kang-in helped create Atletico Madrid's opening goal against Barcelona, but his team failed to protect its lead and suffered a 2-1 comeback defeat, ending its seven-match winning streak in La Liga.
Atletico lost 2-1 to Barcelona in the 12th round of the 2026-27 Spanish La Liga season at Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid on Sunday, with Fermin Lopez scoring twice for the visitors.
Barcelona maintained its lead atop the standings with 33 points from 11 wins and one loss.
Atletico, which could have reclaimed the top spot with a victory after winning seven straight league matches, remained on 28 points with nine wins, one draw and two losses, slipping to third behind Real Madrid (30 points).
Lee started alongside Julian Alvarez in a two-man attack in Atletico’s 4-4-2 formation and played 60 minutes. He registered one shot but did not record a goal or assist.
Lee has appeared in 14 of Atletico's 15 competitive matches this season. In La Liga, he has played in all 12 matches, starting 10, and has recorded two goals and one assist.
Both teams came close to opening the scoring early, with Atletico’s Marc Pubill hitting the crossbar with a header in the sixth minute and Barcelona's Pedri striking the woodwork with a left-footed shot a minute later.
Atletico broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, with Lee playing a key role in the buildup.
Receiving the ball on the right flank in Barcelona’s half, Lee delivered a precise outside-of-the-left-foot pass toward Alvarez, who was making a run on the opposite flank. Alvarez then sent a low, driven cross from the left side of the penalty area, allowing Giuliano Simeone to arrive and finish with his right foot.
Lee had a chance to score in the 24th minute when he received a pass from Alex Baena and attempted a left-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area, but his effort went straight at the goalkeeper.
Barcelona equalized in the 45th minute.
After Pedri dribbled past defenders and played the ball toward goal, it deflected off an Atletico defender into the path of Lopez, who fired a first-time left-footed shot into the net to make it 1-1 at halftime.
Lee was replaced by Alexander Sorloth in the 60th minute.
Barcelona completed its comeback six minutes later.
Lamine Yamal delivered a pass from the right side of the penalty area toward the right edge of the six-yard box, where Lopez struck a first-time right-footed shot into the net to put Barcelona ahead.
Atletico pushed forward in search of an equalizer but failed to break through Barcelona's defense, suffering a home defeat.
The result marked Atletico’s second consecutive loss in all competitions following its 2-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich in the fourth match of the UEFA Champions League league phase on Nov. 4.
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)
