Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone faces a difficult debut on Saturday as his team looks for its first away win of the Spanish season at Malaga.
The former Atletico midfielder has inherited a squad in 10th place and 10 points adrift of fourth-place Levante, which holds the last spot to qualify for next season's Champions League.
''We are very excited for the game against Malaga so we can have the best fresh start possible,'' said Atletico midfielder Eduardo Salvio. ''We know the adversary is very tough and that it has good players, so it is going to be a test of fire for us.''
Under former coach Gregorio Manzano, Atletico managed to earn only one point out of 21 in seven away games.
Malaga, meanwhile, has only lost once at La Rosaleda Stadium after undergoing a ?60-million ($85-million) squad overhaul this offseason.
''It's clear that (Simeone) is a great motivator,'' said fellow Argentine Martin Demichelis, whose Malaga has slipped into seventh place after going winless in its last three league games.
''We have to try and go out on the pitch with the same intensity as they are going to bring and look to take the game to them.''
Demichelis' main task at center back will be keeping tabs on Radamel Falcao, Atletico's leading scorer with nine goals in league play.
While the Colombia striker may be supported by Adrian Lopez in attack, he won't be able to count on the playmaking skills of Jose Antonio Reyes, who Atletico transferred to boyhood club Sevilla on Thursday.
League leader Real Madrid receives Granada earlier Saturday aiming to extend its three-point advantage over Barcelona ahead of the defending champion's game at crosstown rival Espanyol on Sunday.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was critical of his team's performance midweek in the Copa del Rey when it had to come from behind to beat Malaga 3-2. The Portuguese manager said that most of his starting 11 had spent the holidays slacking off.
Madrid captain Iker Casillas tried to play peacemaker between coach and squad by saying ''the Christmas holidays are for resting, spending time with the family and later also for football.''
Regardless of its form, Madrid is still favored against the promoted Andalusian side.
Granada has risen from the drop zone to sit 12th after losing just once in its last seven league matches, but it has scored a league-low 10 goals, exactly half of Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo's league goal tally this season.
Barcelona has demolished its last eight opponents in all competitions by a combined score of 37-1 since its 1-0 defeat at Getafe in late November. Even so, Espanyol traditionally gives a spirited fight in the Catalan capital derby.
''(Espanyol's) ground is one of the most toughest (in Spain),'' said Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. ''They are a great team. They pressure high up the pitch. They are young, and even though they have sold players they still have a great squad.''
Two more coaches will direct their first games following a tumultuous holidays for a number of struggling clubs.
Manolo Jimenez takes his place on the sideline for last-place Zaragoza as it travels to 19th-place Racing Santander on Saturday in a meeting of the teams with the league's worst records, and coach Francisco Molina makes his debut for Villarreal when it welcomes third-place Valencia in a regional derby on Sunday.
''Our games against Valencia are always good ones,'' said Villarreal forward Marco Ruben. ''It is an important match since it is a chance for the team to respond. Whenever there is a coaching change it provides some psychological peace for the team.''
Also in round 17, it's: Levante vs. Mallorca, Real Sociedad vs. Osasuna, Rayo Vallecano vs. Sevilla, Getafe vs. Athletic Bilbao, and Real Betis vs. Sporting Gijon.
