Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has praised the impact of Antoine Griezmann amid transfer speculation after netting the winner in Monday's 1-0 victory at Valencia.

Griezmann once again came off the bench just past the hour mark, making the decisive impact with a deflected 66th-minute strike after receiving a pass from fellow substitute Thomas Lemar.

The Frenchman is on a two-year loan at Atletico from Barcelona, and Los Rojiblancos have been using him for under 30 minutes in each match to avoid triggering a purchase clause in his contract.

"As long as Griezmann manages to respond as he does, having him on the field is very important and I understand that you have to put him on when it suits the team best," Simeone told reporters.

"The entry of Lemar and Griezmann gave us more peace of mind to impose the team's game."

Yannick Carrasco, who was a half-time substitute, has also been linked with a move away from Atleti, with Tottenham reportedly interested.

"You can't imagine it, it's normal for all coaches except for some," Simeone said about the Carrasco speculation.

"Something can always happen that is important for the clubs, we are not the owners but coaches."

There were two crucial VAR interventions in the win over Valencia, with Yunus Musah's thunderbolt ruled out after a foul in the lead-up on Joao Felix was spotted.

Valencia defender Thierry Correira was also sent off in the 42nd minute for a last-man foul, but that was downgraded to a yellow card after a VAR review.

"When the play started, it was clearly a foul," Simeone said about Musah's disallowed goal.

"The referee didn't see it, the goal came and then with the VAR he did see it.

"On the second play I didn't go for a goal, they told him no and I missed it. It's always fair what happens then there is no going back."

Antoine Griezmann scored the winner just a couple of minutes after coming off the bench as Atletico Madrid beat Valencia 1-0 in a feisty LaLiga clash on Monday.

Griezmann and Thomas Lemar were brought on midway through the second half by Diego Simeone at the Mestalla and they combined to secure all three points.

Griezmann took a pass from Lemar before opening the scoring with a deflected shot to make it two wins out of three for Atleti.

With new signing Edinson Cavani watching on, Valencia had a goal from Yunus Musah disallowed in the first half following a VAR check as they slumped to back-to-back defeats.

Alvaro Morata came close with an early effort from close range, but Valencia started to look the more threatening and it appeared they had taken the lead 25 minutes in.

Musah beat Jan Oblak with a rasping long-range drive, but referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez ruled the goal out following a check on the pitchside monitor for a foul by Mouctar Diakhaby on Joao Felix.

Coaches Simeone and Gennaro Gattuso were booked as tempers flared on the touchline, before Joao Felix was denied by Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Fernandez was centre stage again when he sent Thierry Correia off for a professional foul on Morata, but changed his decision and instead dished out a yellow card to the defender.

Mamardashvili used his left foot to keep out Morata's finish when the striker was sent clear right at the end of a frantic first half.

Neither side looked particularly threatening in the second half until Lemar and Griezmann made an instant impact off the bench, the midfielder winning possession and setting up the France forward, whose left-foot shot from outside the area deflected in off Carlos Soler.

Mamardashvili produced an excellent save to thwart Yannick Carrasco after Matheus Cunha had a goal ruled out for offside and Valencia's impressive keeper prevented Griezmann from claiming a double.

Cunha's effort struck the crossbar via a strong hand from Mamardashvili, but Griezmann's goal proved to be enough.

Valencia have confirmed the capture of Uruguay international Edinson Cavani, with the former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United forward joining on a two-year deal.

Cavani had been a free agent after his contract expired at Old Trafford earlier this year, and the 35-year-old has since been courted by numerous European clubs.

But it is the LaLiga side the veteran attacker has opted to join, linking up with Gennaro Gattuso's team on a free transfer, with his contract set to run until June 2024.

It is a transfer that means Cavani will have played in four of Europe's five major leagues. He left Danubio in his home country to join Palermo in Serie A, before subsequent spells with Napoli, Paris Saint-Germaiin and United.

A six-time Ligue 1 winner at the Parc des Princes, he departed as the club's all-time top scorer, with 200 goals to his name, when he switched to the Premier League in 2020.

Struggles with injuries and fluctuating form saw him net just 12 times in 41 top-flight appearances for United, with the nearest he came to silverware being the 2021 Europa League final loss to Villarreal.

At international level, Cavani won the 2011 Copa America with Uruguay, and has been a member of three World Cup squads, including the team that finished fourth at South Africa 2010.

Having helped them qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup later this year, he will hope to make a fourth appearance at the tournament following his arrival at Valencia.

Villarreal have confirmed Barcelona target Juan Foyth is facing a lay-off with a knee injury.

Barca had been trying to land Foyth before the transfer window closes on Thursday, but they were unable to agree a fee with their LaLiga rivals.

The Argentina defender will almost certainly not be on the move this week after he damaged his left knee during a goalless draw at Getafe on Sunday.

Villarreal said in a statement on Monday: "Medical tests have confirmed that Juan Foyth suffered a post-traumatic contusion in left knee in last Sunday's match against Getafe CF at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.

"The recovery time of the player will depend on how he reacts to treatment. Villarreal CF would like to send the Argentine defender best wishes and hopes to see him back on the pitch as soon as possible."

Foyth's injury blow comes after the Yellow Submarine increased his release clause from €42million to 54.6m.

It has been reported the full-back could be out for two months.

Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was attacked in a robbery at his home.

Thieves reportedly broke into the 33-year-old's house in the town of Castelldefels, where he lives with his wife and two children, on Monday.

Aubameyang and his wife were said to have been handcuffed and tied up, with the robbers forcing them to open a safe.

The former Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund frontman is reported to have been beaten, but Barca confirmed he and his family are "doing well" following the ordeal.

Jewellery was reportedly stolen during the break-in, which occurred after Aubameyang was an unused substitute in Barca's 4-0 win over Real Valladolid at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Real Madrid have signed Barcelona youth product Iker Bravo from Bayer Leverkusen on an initial season-long loan deal.

The 17-year-old spent more than a decade in Barca's famed La Masia academy prior to joining Leverkusen last year.

Bravo, capped by Spain at various age levels through to Under-19, made two substitute appearances for Leverkusen in all competitions last season.

Bundesliga club Leverkusen confirmed on their official website on Monday that an agreement had been reached with Madrid for the teenage forward to return to Spain.

Carlo Ancelotti's side are said to have seen off competition from Atletico Madrid and are reported to have the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for €6million.

Bravo is expected to spend the 2022-23 season playing for Los Blancos' reserve side Real Madrid Castilla.

Edinson Cavani is relishing a new challenge in LaLiga after agreeing to join Valencia.

The striker had been linked with the likes of Villarreal, Real Sociedad and Nice after his Manchester United contract expired.

Cavani has opted to join Gennaro Gattuso's side on a free transfer and arrived in Valencia to undergo a medical on Monday.

The 35-year-old Uruguay international is raring to go as he prepares to start another chapter of what has been an illustrious career.

He told reporters: "We are going to see how everything goes in the next few hours and I am happy to come here.

"I have been a bit out of [speaking to] the press, because it has been a decision that was important to me.

"What is [important] is that Valencia have given me a lot of confidence and I will try to give him everything on my part to be able to leave a good image in this club and the best of me."

The former Paris Saint-Germain frontman added: "I wanted to be here and play in Spain and Valencia has opted for me.

"It is something that I have already said before, you have to go where they love you, where they show you love, because in reality you live from that, from the strength of the people, from the affection of the club, we come with a lot of desire and enthusiasm."

Cavani scored 12 goals in 41 Premier League appearances during a two-year spell at Old Trafford.

His 200 goals for PSG, meanwhile, make him their all-time top goalscorer.

Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid left-back Renan Lodi on a season-long loan.

Forest will reportedly pay Atleti an initial £4.2million (€5m) loan fee for Lodi, who has also renewed his deal with the LaLiga club until 2026.

Lodi becomes promoted Forest's 18th signing of a busy transfer window.

The Brazil international joined Atleti from Athletico Paranaense in June 2019 and has made 84 appearances in the Spanish top flight, scoring four goals and adding six assists.

The 24-year-old was part of Atleti's title-winning squad in the 2020-21 season, and will be targeting a spot in Brazil's World Cup party after winning 15 senior international caps.

Lodi represents one of the most high-profile signings made by Forest, with Steve Cooper conducting a full-scale rebuild of his squad since gaining promotion.

Cooper's team have made a respectable start to their first top-flight campaign since 1998-99, earning a win over West Ham and a draw against Everton between losses to Newcastle United and Tottenham.

Atleti are reportedly targeting Spurs' Sergio Reguilon as a replacement for Lodi, with Diego Simeone declaring on Sunday that he was not put off by the Spain international's past association with rivals Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti emerged with a sense of personal satisfaction after Karim Benzema's two late goals secured a 3-1 win for Real Madrid at Espanyol.

The head coach saw his substitutes come good in the closing stages of the game to pave the way for Benzema's heroics.

Regarded as a humble man, this time Ancelotti was happy to take credit for the decisions that saw him shuffle his Madrid pack in the second half of a hard-fought contest.

He brought off Luka Modric and Federico Valverde in the 58th minute, introducing Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo, before replacing Toni Kroos with Dani Ceballos.

Camavinga brought fresh vibrancy to the Madrid midfield, Rodrygo set up Benzema's first goal in the 88th minute, and Ceballos was fouled for the free-kick that led to a red card and Benzema's late clincher.

That final goal of the game came 10 minutes into stoppage time, after a marathon delay for the VAR to resolve the moment when home goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte clattered Ceballos. Lecomte was sent off and home captain Leandro Cabrera, a defender, took over in goal, Benzema taking advantage by firing home from the set-piece. 

"We won the game because of that energy. That of Camavinga, Rodrygo or Ceballos," Ancelotti said. "The game was slow and we changed it. Each game has its own story."

He said it was impossible to know how the game would have flowed had he fielded his substitutes from the start, allowing the likes of Modric and Kroos to come on and change the game in the second half.

"Sometimes team selection is a gamble and today I think the Real Madrid coach has gambled well."

The veteran Italian coach said Madrid had started brightly, as was exemplified by the sharp movement that brought about Vinicius Junior's early goal.

Former Madrid reserve striker Joselu equalised with his seventh goal in nine LaLiga matches against Los Blancos, before Benzema's double provided the late twist.

Three days after picking up the UEFA men's player of the year award, Benzema showed why he is earning such accolades at this stage of his career. He turns 35 in December but shows no sign of slowing down.

Benzema has scored 28 goals for Madrid in 2022 across all competitions, the joint highest of all players from Europe's top five leagues. It puts him alongside Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe, who snubbed a move to Madrid in favour of signing a new PSG deal in May.

In all, Benzema had eight shots, the highest of any player in a single game during the opening weeks of the LaLiga season.

The late show poured salt on Espanyol wounds, with the team from Barcelona having now failed to win in their last 10 league games, going back to last season.

Kroos told Movistar: "It's to be expected that we suffer against a great rival, also away from home. We controlled the game until their goal. We suffered a bit in the second half, but in the last 30 minutes we regained control.

"They looked tired and we took advantage of that. Winning away is not easy and we have done it three times in a row."

Madrid's first three league assignments have indeed come away from the Santiago Bernabeu, while work is carried out on the stadium, and wins over Almeria, Celta Vigo and now Espanyol have made it an ideal start.

Madrid sit top of the table but are joined on nine points by Real Betis, the team they host next Saturday.

Kroos says Madrid are braced for a busy run of games, as the Champions League group stage begins.

He said: "Every three to four days we are going to play against difficult opponents and there are always times when we are going to have to suffer."

Captain Karim Benzema scored twice in a wild finish as Real Madrid won 3-1 at Espanyol to preserve their 100 per cent record after three games of the LaLiga season.

Vinicius Junior's tidy finish was cancelled out by a goal from Joselu, who has made a habit of scoring against Madrid since spending three years early in his career with the capital club's 'Castilla' B team.

Benzema had a goal ruled out after the break, while Joselu almost pinched another, before Benzema turned in a cross from Rodrygo to snatch the points. Espanyol goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte was sent off in stoppage time and Benzema added his second from the subsequent free-kick as the game ended chaotically.

The result means Madrid move level on nine points with Real Betis, the next opponents for Carlo Ancelotti's team and the only other side with a perfect record.

Vinicius fired Madrid into a 12th-minute lead, meeting a smart pass from Aurelien Tchouameni close to the penalty spot and tucking a first-time shot past Lecomte and into the bottom-left corner.

However, it was Espanyol who struck next, equalising in the 43rd minute. Joselu took Oscar Gil's throughball on board and scored at the second attempt after Courtois made an initial save, with the ball rebounding kindly off Eder Militao for the home striker.

Joselu was in the thick of the penalty-area drama again just before the hour mark when Courtois had to desperately push away his left-footed strike amid a scramble.

Lecomte repelled a 20-yard curling strike from Benzema at the other end, before Madrid's talisman and captain had a goal disallowed for offside after he prodded in a low ball from Toni Kroos.

As the game entered its closing stages, Benzema met Rodrygo's expertly crafted cross from the left, tucking in a close-range volley at the far post to thoroughly deflate the hosts.

There was still time for more drama, Lecomte red-carded in stoppage time after a wild attempted tackle on Dani Ceballos just outside the penalty area. Benzema fired the set-piece from 20 yards beyond stand-in goalkeeper Leandro Cabrera, the captain and defender not quite up to the job.

Jules Kounde outlined his intention to win titles with Barcelona after finally making his long-awaited debut in the 4-0 victory over Real Valladolid on Saturday.

The defensive acquisition from Sevilla has had to be patient to make his bow, missing the opening two LaLiga matches against Rayo Vallecano and Real Sociedad as he was not registered.

Barcelona were unable to register further additions due to their delicate financial situation, with LaLiga requiring outgoing deals before he could officially join the ranks, but an agreement was reached ahead of the third game of the season.

Kounde immediately slotted into Xavi's defence for the 4-0 win, winning three of four duels, regaining possession on five occasions and misplacing just four of 58 attempted passes.

Now set for a big week, returning to former employers Sevilla next weekend before the club begin their Champions League campaign, Kounde has made it clear he wants to win trophies with the club.

"I have not played a lot, but I feel very good. I still need a while to get back to my best level," he said.

"I have come to Barca to win titles and to continue growing."

Kounde was utilised on the right side of defence for his debut and, while his preference is to play centrally, is happy to fill in wherever necessary.

"My main position is centre-back, but if the coach wants me to play on the right, then I will do my best to help the team," he said. 

Head coach Xavi heaped praise upon the Frenchman, expressing his belief that he can become a crucial asset for the future as well as providing an immediate impact.

"When we talk about Kounde, we're speaking about a player that can mark an era at Barca," he said.

"He can do everything, play out from the back, has personality, leadership, can play in any defensive position. We've made a great signing."

Valencia expect to complete the signing of former Manchester United and Paris Saint-German striker Edinson Cavani, according to head coach Gennaro Gattuso.

Cavani has been without a club since leaving United as a free agent in July, having scored 12 goals in 41 Premier League appearances during a two-year spell at Old Trafford.

The Uruguay international's 200 goals for PSG, meanwhile, make him their all-time top goalscorer, and he turned down a return to Ligue 1 after attracting interest from Nice earlier this month.

Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere said Cavani's desire to move to Spain was the reason those transfer talks broke down, and the 35-year-old now appears close to getting his wish.   

Speaking ahead of Monday's clash with Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, Gattuso said: "I am optimistic by nature, we are working, talking, I think we have possibilities. 

"[Valencia owner] Peter Lim is working hard, and I think we are going to sign Cavani because Lim, at the moment, believes a lot in this possibility.

"When you talk about Cavani, he is not a normal player, he has played for big clubs and at the highest level for a long time. He is 35 years old but has an incredible mentality, I am talking about the technical part, not money, that is not a problem, there are two different things. 

"The problem is that a lot of people talk in an operation and it's not easy to close it in two minutes.

"We are working on it for two or three weeks, but we are going to wait and I hope that it will close in a positive way for us. We have done everything to solve it and I hope that the signing will be closed.

"We are talking about a champion, a footballer who has played in teams of a high level, I am also excited that he comes here."

Los Che, who have taken three points from their first two league games this season, are also set to conclude another loan deal for Tottenham's Bryan Gil, who spent the second half of last campaign at the Mestalla.

Gattuso revealed his belief the deal will go through when Spurs bring in a replacement, adding the young playmaker was "99 per cent" likely to make the move. 

Barcelona head coach Xavi heaped praise upon "natural leader" Robert Lewandowski, highlighting other aspects of his game beyond the goals after the 4-0 win against Real Valladolid.

The recent acquisition from Bayern Munich scored a brace for the second game in a row to take his tally to four in three games and was unfortunate to have not secured a hat-trick, hitting the frame of the goal twice.

Lewandowski's goals were always going to be the most valuable outcome of his lucrative transfer, but Xavi believes he offers more than his devastating impact in the final third.

"Apart from the goals, I would highlight his timing. Everything that the fan does not see so much, is extraordinary," he told DAZN.

"He is a natural leader; what he sees he says. It's wonderful how he has adapted to the group. He is a born worker, an example."

Having started the campaign with a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona have secured back-to-back wins against Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid, scoring eight goals in the process – more than any other side to have completed three matches.

While Xavi made it clear there are areas for improvement, he hailed the team for a "remarkable" performance.

"Perfect no, but it was a great match. The first 40 minutes were very good. Then we relaxed. In the second part we started well as well," he added.

"Overall, it was a perfect match, but not a complete one. You don't have to relax and you have to keep squeezing. We wanted to give back to the fans the illusion. 

"This is good for the team and for the fans. We should not relax as has happened with the 2-0. I have to watch the game repeated but there are things to improve. There is no perfect match, but it was remarkable."

Barcelona's next test is against Sevilla before commencing their Champions League campaign, having been handed a tough group that includes Bayern Munich and Inter.

Robert Lewandowski struck a brace for the second game in a row as Barcelona strolled to a comfortable 4-0 win against Real Valladolid.

The game saw Jules Kounde make his long-awaited debut for the club following his move from Sevilla, having had his registration postponed, but it was another of Barcelona's marquee additions who stole the show.

Poland international Lewandowski struck in both halves of Sunday's contest at Camp Nou, a poacher's finish at the far post for his first and a deft backheel for his second.

Pedri and Sergi Roberto were also on the scoresheet for Xavi's side, who stand unbeaten in LaLiga with seven points from a possible nine.

The hosts started strong but were foiled by the frame of the goal, Lewandowski heading into the post before Ousmane Dembele smashed a ferocious effort against the crossbar.

A breakthrough came after 24 minutes, though, Lewandowski on hand at the far post to stab home Raphinha's inviting cross.

It was two before the break, Pedri finding space around the penalty spot to comfortably steer Dembele's pass beyond the helpless Jordi Masip.

Barcelona's dominance continued in the second period, boasting 66 per cent possession on the hour mark, and, while fans had to be patient for a third goal to capitalise on their dominance, it was worth the wait.

Dembele cut inside from the right to tee a pass through to Lewandowski, who expertly backheeled a finish past his marker and the keeper – taking his tally to four goals in three matches for his new side.

Lewandowski was denied a hat-trick in stoppage time, striking the frame of the goal from close range, but Sergi Roberto was on hand to tuck away the rebound.

Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone will not be put off signing Sergio Reguilon as a replacement for Renan Lodi, despite the defender's affiliation with Real Madrid.

Spain international Reguilon is out of favour under Antonio Conte at Tottenham, and is seeking a move away prior to next Thursday's transfer deadline.

Atletico are reportedly eager to bring in the 25-year-old on an initial loan with a view to making the deal permanent at the end of the season.

Reguilon spent 15 years of his career on the books of Atletico's fierce rivals Real, where he emerged through the youth system and made 22 first-team appearances.

But as Atletico look to sign a full-back to replace Nottingham Forest-bound Lodi, Simeone pointed out his side have had success when recruiting former Los Blancos players in the past.

"The club's working on signing a replacement for Lodi – let's see what happens in the next four days of fun," Simeone said at a press conference ahead of Monday's trip to Valencia.

"Juanfran had previously played for Real Madrid, as had Filipe Luis – both are now part of the history of this club.

"Even today, Alvaro [Morata] is doing well; Mario [Hermoso] gave a lot to the title-winning squad two seasons ago. 

"[Marcos] Llorente was off the charts when we won the title. I look at all these as football players."

Reguilon, who spent the 2019-20 season on loan with Sevilla, made 67 appearances in his first two seasons with Spurs, but has not yet featured this campaign.

It has been the same story for Lodi, who has yet to play any minutes in the 2022-23 season, and is eager to move on with an eye on Brazil's World Cup 2022 squad.
 
"Renan wants to play continuously. Because of his situation, that is not happening," Simeone said. "He is looking for a club where he believes he can get that.

"There are people who like to compete and others who prefer to change teams to get the minutes that theoretically gets them in a better position for the World Cup."