Michel's promising start will be put to the test this weekend when Getafe play host to mighty Barcelona.

With no previous top-flight coaching experience and only limited time at Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid Castilla, Michel may have been considered a surprise choice when relegation-threatened Getafe needed a replacement for the sacked Victor Munoz in April.

But the former Spain international has so far proved an inspired choice, guiding Getafe to safety last term with eight points from their final five games and then leading the club from the outskirts of Madrid to an unbeaten pre-season programme.

Then, in the opening game of this season, Michel masterminded a 4-1 away win over Racing Santander that has left Getafe top of the standings heading into this weekend's games.

It has been a happy marriage, but Michel's honeymoon period could be about to end as all-conquering Barca visit the Coliseum Alfonso Perez this weekend.

That game will provide Michel with a completely different challenge to any he has faced in his fledgling coaching career to date - although the 46-year-old insists he will be treating the fixture the same as any other.

"It's an incentive and something to look forward to, nothing more. There won't be any changes in the way we prepare and we won't be looking at our opponents more than at other times," said Michel in AS.

The former Real Madrid player was not in charge when Barca gave Getafe a footballing masterclass during their last visit to the Coliseum back in April, but he feels his team may be a different proposition this time around.

"If Barcelona play the same as they did in the first half then we will not be able to change many things (from that game), because they played almost perfectly," admitted Michel.

"At Getafe, what has changed is the security of the players, who are more capable and more willing to create things. They believe more in what they are doing.

"My players are not going to stand around watching (Barca's players)."

Barca could be boosted by the return of Andres Iniesta for the match after he was given the all-clear to resume playing this week after more than three months out through injury.

That is great news for Barca coach Pep Guardiola, especially ahead of next week's testing Champions League trip to Inter Milan.

While the top two in La Liga do battle near the capital this weekend, big-spending Real Madrid make the trip to Barca's backyard to take on Espanyol.

The match will be Espanyol's first league game at their new Cornella-El Prat stadium and they will be desperate to mark the occasion by putting one over a Madrid side that was revolutionised this summer to the tune of 250million euros.

There is also set to be a minute's silence prior to kick-off in tribute to Daniel Jarque, the Espanyol captain who died last month at the age of 26.

Ivan de la Pena, who has replaced Jarque as skipper, admits Saturday's game will be special for "the memory of Dani Jarque, because it's the first game in the stadium, and because the visitors are Madrid".

Barca and Madrid are both in action on Saturday night due to their Champions League commitments, as are Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.

Atletico, and in particular their board, look set to face the wrath of their fans as they play host to Racing Santander having lost their opening game 3-0 to Malaga. The Rojiblancos supporters are planning a protest at the match.

Sevilla, having lost to Valencia prior to the international break, will also be hoping to get back on track when they host promoted Real Zaragoza. .

The remaining games are on Sunday, when Malaga travel to Deportivo La Coruna, Villarreal face Real Mallorca, Osasuna are at Tenerife, Sporting Gijon meet Almeria, and Valencia are at Real Valladolid.

Segunda Division champions Xerez play their first ever Primera Division match in front of their own fans when they welcome Athletic Bilbao - a side who have never been out of the top flight - to the Estadio Municipal de Chapin.