Madrid - Saturday will be a red-letter day for Espanyol. That is when they will hoping to remain on top of the Spanish Liga, by beating Getafe at home.
Espanyol are the only team to have won their first two league matches, thanks to two goals from Spain striker Luis Garcia.
"We just have to take this thing one step at a time," said Garcia on Wednesday, "and not get too excited about it...There's no point at this stage in really thinking about being on top."
Curiously, Garcia is one of a trio of Espanyol players unlucky to miss out on going to Euro 2008.
Six months ago, Espanyol were fifth in the table and well placed to return to the UEFA Cup. Garcia, Albert Riera and Raul Tamudo were all set fair to be part of the Spain squad at Euro 2008.
The blue-and-whites, however, collapsed in the spring and finished in disappointing 12th place. Coach Ernesto Valverde was replaced by assistant Bartolome Marquez - and the trio was overlooked by Spain manager Luis Aragones.
To make matters worse, Riera and right-back Pablo Zabalaeta left for the Premier League in summer, and no major signings were made.
That's why Espanyol's strong start is such a surprise in Spain.
Getafe have also started well, and have four points.
They will travel to Barcelona, however, without injured Argentine goalkeepers Roberto Abbondanzieri and Oscar Ustari.
The other match scheduled for Saturday is between Atletico Madrid and Recreativo Huelva.
Atletico are on Cloud Nine after their Champions League debut win 3-0 away to PSV Eindhoven, in which Sergio Aguero came of age on the big stage.
Now Aguero will have to get by without strike partner Diego Forlan, out for a month with a thigh strain. Florent Sinama-Pongolle will take his place.
Sunday will see difficult away games for Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Real face a Santander side unbeaten so far.
"It will not be an easy game," said Real veteran Raul Gonzalez after Wednesday's 2-0 defeat of BATE Borisov.
"It is never an easy game in Santander, they are a strong side."
Barca, for their part, will be looking for their first win of the season along the coast in Gijon.
Newly-promoted Gijon have lost their first two games, butwill still make life hard for a Barca short on confidence.
Sunday's other games are as follows: Betis-Sevilla, Almeria-Malaga, Numamcia-Villarreal, Deportivo Coruna-Mallorca and Valencia-Osasuna.
