Atletico Madrid Frenchman was sent off in LaLiga opener

It would be fair to say that Atletico Madrid's start to the 2017/18 LaLiga season didn't go to plan, with a draw against Girona and a suspension for Antoine Griezmann.

However, Los Colchoneros have challenged the referee's report in order to minimise the Frenchman's punishment.

Now this is a rather tricky process; it is not quite an appeal, but rather a public challenge of what Juan Martinez Munuera included in his match report.

Griezmann was sent off after he was first shown a yellow card for simulation before his verbal protests actually saw him dismissed.

Atleti are looking to take into account everything that occurred prior to the forward being shown the red card in order to fully gauge whether or not an appeal will be necessary.

Within the official report submitted on Saturday, Munuera detailed the incident as follows: "In minute 66 Antoine Griezmann was booked for the following reason: simulation. In minute 66 Antoine Griezmann was sent off for the following reason: verbally insulting me, after a warning, by saying 'you are a pussy'."

With the action of challenging the report, Los Rojiblancos' intention is twofold as they hope firstly to demonstrate that there was indeed contact between the 26-year-old and Gorka Iraizoz and thus there wasn't an act of simulation, whilst secondly the club hope that his other card will be treated as basic dissent, rather than an insult, and that the punishment reflects that.

Looking back to May 2016, this is actually what happened in the case of Rodrigo, who was sent off at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for using the exact same "un cagon" phrase as Griezmann did, but towards the linesman.

He was banned for two matches under article 117 of the disciplinary code of the Spanish Football Federation, where as long as an attitude of contempt doesn't constitute a more serious offence they can be banned for two or three matches or up to one month.

Atletico would point towards this case for a two-match suspension for Griezmann. rather than anything more significant.

Los Colchoneros are desperate for him not to miss the first match at the new Estadio Wanda Metropolitano against Malaga on September 16.