How to watch Atletico Madrid vs Malaga in the USA

In the United States, ESPN Deportes will carry Atletico Madrid vs. Malaga on TV, with streaming options including Fubo, ESPN+, the ESPN App.

Can I watch Atletico Madrid vs Malaga for free?

Yes, eligible new Fubo subscribers can watch Atletico Madrid vs. Malaga for free through the 5-day free trial. The official website currently advertises a free trial, although it notes that free trials may not be available on every plan.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Atletico Madrid open their 2026-27 LaLiga campaign at home against Malaga, with both teams entering the season under very different circumstances. Diego Simeone‘s side finished fourth last season, 25 points behind champions Barcelona, and will be looking to close that gap as they attempt to return to the title race.

The summer has brought several important additions for Atletico. Alejandro Grimaldo, Kang-in Lee, Morten Hjulmand and Cristian Romero have joined the squad, giving Simeone additional quality and tactical options. However, the team has also had a complicated preseason, recording two wins and two defeats, including losses against Manchester United and Manchester City.

The biggest storyline ahead of kickoff surrounds Julian Alvarez. Simeone confirmed that Alvarez will not play against Malaga because he needs more training after returning from the 2026 World Cup. Alexander Sorloth and Romero are also unavailable for the opener.

Malaga, meanwhile, return to LaLiga for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The Andalusian club earned promotion through the 2025-26 Segunda Division playoffs after beating Almeria in the final, and Juan Francisco Funes now faces the challenge of keeping the club in the top flight.

Atletico Madrid vs Malaga: Predicted Lineups

Atletico Madrid (3-4-1-2): Jan Oblak; Marc Pubill, Robin Le Normand, David Hancko; Giuliano Simeone, Pablo Barrios, Koke, Alejandro Grimaldo; Lee Kang-in; Ademola Lookman, Aitor Ortiz.

Malaga (4-3-3): Alfonso Herrero; Carlos Puga, Angel Recio, Einar Galilea, Jose Salinas; Rafa Rodriguez, Izan Merino, Dani Lorenzo; David Larrubia, Chupe, Joaquin Munoz.

What time is the Atletico Madrid vs Malaga match?

The match kicks off on Wednesday, August 19, at 3:00 PM ET. For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

• Eastern Time: 3:00 PM
• Central Time: 2:00 PM
• Mountain Time: 1:00 PM
• Pacific Time: 12:00 PM

Following a grueling run with Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, Alvarez is still working his way back to full match fitness. That lack of conditioning is the primary reason he will sit out Atletico Madrid‘s 2026–27 LaLiga Matchday 1 fixture against Malaga.

According to head coach Diego Simeone, the star striker requires additional time to build up his physical workload before tackling the high demands of the LaLiga season. As a result, Alvarez will remain sidelined for the opener with an eye on returning for Matchday 2 while he ramps up his fitness in training.

Naturally, his absence from the squad has only amplified transfer speculation. After rumors surfaced suggesting Alvarez might be open to a new challenge away from Madrid, his exclusion sparked immediate chatter, particularly with European heavyweights like Barcelona and Arsenal reportedly keeping close tabs on his situation.

Alvarez’s career track record with Atletico Madrid

Despite the persistent transfer noise, Alvarez remains a crucial focal point in Simeone’s attack as he enters his third season with the club following his high-profile move from Manchester City in 2024.

Here is a breakdown of his production during his tenure with Atletico Madrid:

• Total appearances: 106 matches
• Total goals: 49 goals
• Assists: 12 assists

While rumor mills continue to link him with a summer move away, all indications point to Alvarez remaining at the Metropolitano for the 2026–27 LaLiga campaign. A late transfer window exit remains unlikely, though as always in global soccer, nothing can be ruled out until the window officially slams shut.

In 2020, club owner Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani was forced to lay off the entire first-team squad to save the club from oblivion. The team fell into the third division by May 2023, to say the fans are not happy with the current ownership group is an understatement.

Still the Malaga supporters are finding humor in their current predicament and went to the local airport to “greet” a random tourist as he waited outside the terminal as if said tourist was a new “star signing”.

Man shocked to be greeted by Malaga supporters

In the video a man coming out of the terminal is presented a jersey with the number 69 as fans surround the confused tourist by chanting and holding up a sign “Welcome to Malaga”.

Back in 2002 Malaga was able to win the UEFA Intertoto Cup and in 2012 under Pellegrini finished fourth in the league with a club record-breaking 58 points. Then the financial issues started, and the club began to fall apart eventually going down to the Spanish third division.

Just like it happened in Italy with Sampdoria – who dropped to the second tier, Spain has seen one of its historic teams fall even lower. A 2-1 loss to Alaves sealed Malaga’s fate last weekend, as they will play in Primera RFEF next season.

The news made noise in world soccer, since many have seen this club taking the spotlight both domestically and internationally. Unfortunately, their best days are far behind them.

Malaga drops to Spain’s third division

Malaga had already been on decline since dropping from LaLiga in 2018, but they managed to stay in the second division for five straight seasons. Now, they’ve hit rock bottom.

The Boquerones were a regular team in the Spanish top-flight from 1950, only being a few years away in the 90s before the club got back on its feet. In fact, the team from Andalusia even enjoyed continental prominence in the last decade.

Under Manuel Pellegrini, Malaga had a memorable performance in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League, making an unprecedented run to the quarterfinals. On top of that, the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Santi Cazorla, and Isco wore their uniform during their best days. Sadly, those days are over, and the club has to get itself out of a hole.