Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid are closing in on a club record as they prepare to take on struggling Granada, looking to make it 11 successive victories in all competitions.
If, as expected, Madrid do beat a Granada team that have earned just one point from their last five games, Ancelotti's men would move to within four wins of equalling a record that has only been achieved twice in the Spanish giants' storied history.
Miguel Munoz's side first set the mark of 15 consecutive wins back in the 1960/61 season before Jose Mourinho's team matched it during the 2011/12 campaign.
The current Madrid group certainly have every chance of breaking that record, though, as their next six matches are against Granada, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar and Malaga in the league and Liverpool and Basel – who they have already beaten 3-0 and 5-1 respectively this season – in the Champions League.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas acknowledges things are going very well for the European champions now after a poor start to the season, saying at a promotional event: "The direction the team is going in is what we wanted from the off.
"Our aim is to get to March or April as best as we can, as that is the period when almost all of the competitions are decided, as well as being 100 per cent day to day. Once again we have a tough year ahead of us as it will be difficult to top last season. But we have the players to do it and our group dynamic is great.
"We are on the right track to progressing to the next round in the Copa del Rey and we still have to seal our place in the last-16 in the Champions League, which we are very close to doing.
"Then we have the Club World Cup, which we think could be the icing on the cake for 2014, a phenomenal year so far. We have done a good job of keeping everyone happy."
Madrid, who have averaged over four goals per game thus far, ended Barcelona's unbeaten start last Saturday and they could replace their arch-rivals at the top of the table if results go their way this weekend.
Meanwhile, Barca face a potential banana skin at home to sixth-placed Celta Vigo, where Lionel Messi should get another crack at breaking the all-time Primera Division scoring record.
The match could also see summer signing Luis Suarez make his competitive home debut for the Blaugrana, having made his debut in the Clasico against Madrid just hours after his four-month ban for biting expired.
Level on 22 points with Barca are Sevilla, who have built on their Europa League triumph in May with a brilliant start to the season. They face stuttering Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Sunday morning.
In a congested top of the table where the leading five sides are separated by only two points, fourth-placed Valencia make the short trip to Villarreal while defending champions Atletico Madrid host Cordoba – who are the only La Liga side yet to record a win.
At the foot of the table, Levante and Elche – who are level on five points with Cordoba – host Almeria and Espanyol respectively, while surprise strugglers Real Sociedad take on Malaga.
Round 10 action begins on Friday night with Getafe's trip to Deportivo La Coruna while on Monday Rayo Vallecano take on Eibar.
