Aguero inspires Atletico to win over Marseille

MADRID (Reuters) - Sergio Aguero scored his third goal in two Champions League games to help Atletico Madrid beat Olympique Marseille 2-1 Wednesday in their first home game for 11 years in Europe's top club competition.

The 20-year-old Argentine stole in between two Marseille defenders and perfectly controlled a Maxi Rodriguez through ball before calmly slotting past Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in the fourth minute.

The visitors pulled one back after Senegal's Mamadou Niang rose to head in after 16 minutes but Atletico's Raul Garcia sealed the win six minutes later, nicking in Mariano Pernia's low free kick after Aguero had been fouled by the corner flag.

After two matches Atletico and Liverpool have a maximum six points each after the English side beat PSV Eindhoven 3-1 in the group's other game.

Despite Javier Aguirre's side missing a number of first choice players including Diego Forlan and Simao, Atletico grew in confidence in the second half without adding to their tally.

Maxi came within a whisker of a spectacular goal as his cheeky back heel went just wide after some neat interplay with Aguero before Mandanda kept Marseille in the game with a full stretch save to deny fellow Frenchman Florent Sinama-Pongolle. It almost saved the 1993 champions as they pressed for an equaliser in the last 10 minutes but Atletico held on to leave the visitors without a point after two games following their opening defeat to Liverpool.

Atletico host 2005 winners Liverpool in their next game on October 22.

(Reporting by Ben Harding; editing by Padraic Halpin)