MADRID (AFP) - Valencia notched up their fifth successive league victory with a comfortable 3-0 win over struggling local rivals Levante.

Second-half goals from Hugo Viana, Fernando Morientes and Roberto Ayala put Valencia firmly back in the title race.

They move up from fifth to third, although they will slip back one place should Real Madrid beat Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

The 2002 and 2004 Spanish champions should have been in front by half-time but Morientes and Miguel Angel Angulo both squandered great chances.

However, Valencia finally took the lead when Portuguese international Viana got his first league goal after 52 minutes.

Viana found the net with a exquisite lob from 25 metres to help put behind him his unhappy last season at English Premiership side Newcastle United.

Four minutes later, Morientes slotted home a Miguel cross from out on the left wing.

Valencia ended any remote chance of a late Levante comeback when Ayala headed home a David Villa free kick 10 minutes before the whistle.

To add to their woes in their battle to avoid relegation, Levante look to have lost their highly-rated central defender Alvaro for at least a month after the Brazilian broke a collar bone in an accidental clash with his own goalkeeper Jose Francisco Molina.

Real Madrid start life without superstar David Beckham by playing host to Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Beckham announced on Thursday that he was moving to Los Angeles Galaxy and Real coach Fabio Capello responded on Saturday by saying that the former England captain would never play again for the club.

Real have an injury crisis, as well as defenders Michel Salgado and Sergio Ramos suspended, which means there will be some strange faces in strange positions in their back four against Zaragoza.

However, Capello tried to sound upbeat on Saturday after dropping the Beckham bombshell.

"We are not that far from first place. Sure, we´ll be missing some people (against Zaragoza) but they´ll be back soon," said the Italian coach.

The Spanish giants have lost three of their last four league games but are still third although they are now five points behind leaders Sevilla.

Sevilla will be looking to extend their 100 percent record at home in their Sanchez Pizjuan stadium this season against Real Mallorca on Sunday.

With striker Luis Fabiano banned for five matches, the role of playing along side the Spanish first division´s top scorer Fredi Kanoute is likely to fall to Sevilla´s Uruguayan striker Ernesto Chevanton.

Barcelona continue their quest for a third successive league title at local rivals Espanyol later on Saturday.

Barca lie second to Sevilla, two points behind the surprise league leaders who last won La Liga in 1946, but the Catalans have a game in hand.