Atlético Madrid suffered their first defeat of the La Liga season on Saturday, losing 0-3 away to Athletic Bilbao, according to South Korean news agency 연합뉴스.
Midfielder Lee Kang-in started the match and played 59 minutes before being substituted, the reports said. During his time on the pitch, Lee struck the woodwork twice, once with each foot, within the opening minutes of the game. Multiple outlets, including 연합뉴스 and Daum, highlighted the misfortune, with one headline describing how Bilbao defenders blocked his left-footed attempts only for Lee to then hit the post with his right foot.
Atlético conceded two goals in quick succession early in the match, falling behind within the first three minutes of play, according to 스포츠경향. The team was unable to recover, and Bilbao added a third goal later in the game to seal the 0-3 result. 머니투데이 reported that Lee was taken off in the 58th minute, with Atlético already trailing by two goals at that stage.
The loss marks a significant setback for Atlético, who had gone unbeaten in their opening fixtures of the campaign. Lee, a South Korean international who has been a regular starter for the club, will likely be frustrated by his near-misses, as his attempts on goal were among Atlético's best chances to get back into the match.
Athletic Bilbao, playing at home at San Mamés, will take confidence from the dominant performance against one of Spain's traditional top sides.
Atlético will need to regroup quickly as they look to bounce back in their next La Liga outing, with Lee expected to remain a key figure in their attacking lineup.
