The Europa League winners are level on points with Barcelona at the top of the standings, but second on goal difference, after a run of eight straight victories from nine games this season.
One more, and they will better their previous best start to a campaign, when they went on to win a league and King's Cup double back in 1996.
The intimidating figure of Diego Simeone controlled Atletico's midfield in the those days, and he now stalks the touchline as coach, lauded by the fans as much as his players.
"The good thing about Atletico is that they have great players who know how to play as if they are in a small team," Osasuna coach Jose Luis Mendilibar said after defeat at the Calderon last weekend.
"Then, going forward, they kill you. They are very quick and take their chances. They are on a roll."
Atletico's Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, with 10 league goals so far, is one of the most coveted players in Europe and has helped the club go 23 games unbeaten across all competitions.
"We aren't going to stop and analyse what we are doing, that wouldn't be good," he said after Wednesday's 3-0 King's Cup win at Jaen, their 13th consecutive victory this season.
"The good thing is to think about Valencia which will be extremely tough."
