Lee Kang-in starts for Atlético Madrid for the first time, plays 36 minutes in preseason friendly

South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in made his first start for Spanish club Atlético Madrid in a preseason friendly against French side Marseille on Saturday. Lee played 36 minutes in the match, held at the CEPAC Velodrome in Marseille, as Atlético Madrid secured a 2-1 victory.

Since his transfer to Atlético Madrid last month, Lee has featured in one other friendly. He came on as a substitute in the 78th minute against Manchester City on July 9th in Seoul, playing just over 20 minutes. Saturday's match marked his first time starting alongside his teammates and playing a significant role in the attack.

Lee partnered with Adama Traoré upfront and showed flashes of his skill, including a pass to Traoré in the ninth minute. According to football statistics website FotMob, Lee registered nine touches and completed six passes during his time on the field. He was substituted in the 36th minute for Carlos Martín.

Atlético Madrid fell behind in the 22nd minute to an Igor Paixão goal but equalized through Rodrigo Mendoza in the 39th minute. Martín scored the winning goal in the 78th minute. The team's final preseason match is scheduled against Málaga on August 20th at their home stadium, the Metropolitano Stadium in Riyadh. This upcoming season will be Lee's debut in Spain's La Liga.