Fernando Morientes scored twice to help Valencia climb to third place with a 3-1 home win over direct rivals Atletico Madrid in the Primera Liga on Saturday.

Roberto Ayala and Morientes put Valencia in command with goals early in each half, but on his return to the Mestalla Mista pulled one back for Atletico in the 56th minute.

Former Liverpool striker Morientes made sure of a deserved victory with his ninth goal of the season midway through the second half.

"We have some of the best wingers in football in our side and it's up to the forwards to make the most of their work. I was able to do that," Morientes told television station La Sexta.

Valencia have 39 points, two short of second-placed Sevilla, who host Real Sociedad on Sunday, and three behind leaders Barcelona who visit Osasuna.

Fourth-placed Real Madrid, who are on 38 points, host Levante at the Bernabeu.

Earlier, striker Sergio Garcia struck late to keep Real Zaragoza in the hunt for a Champions League place with a 2-1 win at Espanyol.

He sprinted clear on the counter-attack early in the second half to put the visitors ahead and, a minute after Luis Garcia had equalised, settled the match following another swift break three minutes from time.

Zaragoza are sixth, a point behind fifth-placed Atletico, who have 36 points.

POOR MARKING

Valencia were gifted an early lead against Atletico when poor marking at a corner allowed Argentine defender Ayala to rise unopposed to score with a powerful header in the 15th minute.

With the visitors forced to the chase the game, Valencia were happy to play on the break thereafter using the electric pace of David Villa, David Silva and Vicente.

Former Valencia striker Mista just failed to nudge Jurado's cross in before the break, but it was a rare chance for Atletico.

Soon after the restart, Villa set winger Vicente clear down the left on a swift break and he crossed low for Morientes to double the lead.

Within two minutes, Atletico were back in the game as Mista chased a long ball and fired in from the edge of the area, but it was a short-lived revival.

Vicente scampered down the left again in the 68th minute and crossed low for Morientes, who caught out marker Pablo Ibanez to finish high into the net.

The only black spot for Valencia was when the injury-prone Vicente retired with what looked like a thigh problem.