Morientes joined Liverpool in January 2005 for 6.3 million pounds from Real Madrid but struggled to adapt to the Premiership and hit just 12 goals in 61 matches.

His slump was so pronounced that he missed out on Spain's World Cup squad.

But back on home turf, he again showed his deadly finishing instincts when he gave Valencia the lead after 33 minutes in the opening game of the new 2006/2007 season.

He scored with a fine volley after a pinpoint cross from Edu to score his second goal of the week after also finding the net in the Champions League win over Salzburg in midweek.

Real Betis were level, however, in the 53rd minute when Munoz Xisco nipped in between two defenders to score from an Enrique Romero left-wing cross.

Valencia hit back with the winner just eight minutes later when Raul Albiol scored with a half-volley.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Barcelona, bitter rivals across the 77 years the Spanish league has been in existence, enter the new season on the back of recent campaigns which have brought widely differing fortunes.

Barca have been untouchable for the past two seasons, running away with the title and last May adding their second Champions League title, though they still trail Real historically by 29 domestic titles to 18.

They have again been relatively prudent in upgrading their squad with former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen, Italian World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta and French veteran defender Lilian Thuram.

Real have slightly toned down the number of new faces, buying Ruud Van Nistelrooy from Manchester United to link up once more with David Beckham, Italian World Cup-winning skipper Fabio Cannavaro and Brazilian midfielder Emerson.