Atlético Madrid Kick Off New Season vs. Promoted Málaga

Atlético de Madrid begins their new season against Málaga, aiming to overcome the inconsistencies that plagued their 2025/26 LaLiga campaign. The club has bolstered its squad with new signings, including Morten Hjulmand and Cristian Romero for midfield and defense, and Alejandro Grimaldo for left wing-back. Kang-In Lee has arrived as a replacement for Antoine Griezmann.

Málaga returns to the Primera División after an eight-year absence, having achieved promotion through a playoff victory. Under manager Juan Francisco Funes, the team saw a remarkable turnaround. They will depend on Carlos Ruiz Rubio, who scored 24 goals last season, and Adrián Niño and David Larrubia, who combined for 21 goals during their promotion campaign.

Team news indicates that Julián Alvarez's departure from the club is unlikely, with the player appearing focused in training. World Cup winners Marcos Llorente and Álex Baena are expected to have limited minutes due to their late return from vacation. Alexander Sørloth is ruled out with a muscular injury.

Historically, Atlético has dominated this fixture, winning 40 of their 72 meetings and the last five encounters. The most recent match on February 10, 2018, saw Atlético secure a 1-0 victory. The predicted outcome for the upcoming match is a 3-1 win for Atlético Madrid.