BARCELONA, Aug 26 (AP): World Cup winners Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele scored second-half goals to give Atletico Madrid and Barcelona 1-0 victories over promoted teams on Saturday.
Dembele rifled in a headed pass from Sergi Roberto in the 57th minute to help defending champion Barcelona triumph at Valladolid and secure a second victory in as many Spanish league games this season.
Griezmann netted with a similar one-touch strike, sweeping home a ball headed forward by Stefan Savic as Atletico beat visiting Rayo Vallecano.
Dembele only managed four goals in 23 appearances during an injury-shortened first season with Barcelona following his then club-record transfer of 105 million euros (then $124 million) in 2017.
The 21-year-old forward now has two goals- both winners- in three matches this campaign. He also struck late to give Barcelona a 2-1 victory against Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup.
Griezmann bagged his first goal for Atletico since helping France to the world title in June and July, when he netted four times along with Kylian Mbappe at the tournament in Russia.
He failed to score in Atletico's 4-2 win against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup earlier this month and in the 1-1 draw at Valencia in the Spanish league last week.
Griezmann, 27, turned down an offer to join Barcelona this summer after Atletico finished runner-up to the Catalan club last season.
"I am very happy here and I am going to give my all for this club and my teammates," Griezmann said. "They did all they could to keep me here and now I have to return that love they showed me with hard work on the pitch."
Seeing his Barcelona side stifled in attack by a feisty Valladolid team, coach Ernesto Valverde made a tactical change that proved the key in undoing the hosts' defense.
Valverde switched from a 4-3-3 system to 4-4-2 in the second half, shifting Dembele from the left to the other flank in front of right back Sergi Roberto.
The move paid off when Luis Suarez lofted a crossfield pass for Sergi Roberto to chase and head back for Dembele to drive home.
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