Diego Simeone "happy" despite defeat

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has hinted that his side are not involved in the La Liga title race this season.

The capital outfit won their first league title since 1996 last term, but Simeone has continually played down their prospects in the early part of the season.

After Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Real Sociedad, Simeone claimed that Valencia and Sevilla were his side's main challengers in the table and not the current top two – Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"I'm happy because it's a good round for us. Valencia and Sevilla drew and in that regard the defeat comes at a good time," he told AS.

"It was a very entertaining, fast-moving game. We started well, the better team, and went ahead on the scoreboard, but Real responded well.

"They were gradually the better team and when [Guilherme Siqueira] was sent off, they played with more intensity on their pitch and I noticed that until they got their second goal ."

Atletico currently sit fourth in La Liga, four points off the top.