All eyes will be on the Bernabeu on Saturday as the Primera Division throws up its first must-see clash of the season.
European champions Real Madrid take on domestic kings Atletico in an immediate repeat of their Super Cup contest earlier this month.
Spanish Primera División
2014 Week 3
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Friday, September 12,
2014
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Almería vs Córdoba 1-1
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Final
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Saturday, September 13,
2014
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Barcelona vs Athletic
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10:00 AM
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Málaga vs Levante
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12:00 PM
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Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid
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2:00 PM
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Celta Vigo vs Real Sociedad
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4:00 PM
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Sunday, September 14,
2014
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Rayo vs Elche
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6:00 AM
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Valencia vs Espanyol
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11:00 AM
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Sevilla vs Getafe CF
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1:00 PM
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Granada vs Villarreal
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3:00 PM
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Monday, September 15,
2014
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Eibar vs Deportivo
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2:45 PM
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Atleti took the honours then - instant revenge for their Champions League loss - and defender Juanfran is not expecting this clash to stray too far from recent ones.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: "There will be few surprises. It will be a game similar to previous ones.
"Every year, the rivalry is more intense and more beautiful. When we are with the Spanish national team, we speak and these are the games everyone likes to play.
"We are eager to play then. It will be decided by the details. In the Super Cup we had the chance to win, there were minimal details and we took advantage of them.
"We grew strong and hopefully, the same can happen and we can win."
Real's last outing before the international break saw them squander a two-goal lead against Real Sociedad, causing some to question whether there latest batch of 'Galacticos' can play together.
Juanfran does not see this is a more winable fixture, though.
"It's never a good time to visit the Bernabeu," he said. "It's a hard place to go and it will be very hard to win.
"It will be a very even game where we hope our strengths are better than their strengths. I'm a positive man and I hope so."
Despite the season still being in its infancy - this is a round-three match - Real's performance will be under particular scrutiny.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti, though, is sure he can make his expensively-assembled squad perform as a unit.
"The team is working hard and one thing for sure is that the team is a diesel," Ancelotti told Il Giornale.
"My confidence lies on two pillars: I have a group of professionals that are very concentrated and Cristiano [Ronaldo] scores a goal a game.
"I will find the right solution for Madrid."