| Roma have made history with their 10th Serie A win on the trot, but they have lost Francesco Totti to a fractured ankle and he'll be out for around two months. This was set to become an historic moment, as the Giallorossi prepared to match the all-time Serie A record of 10 consecutive victories - an achievement last managed by Bologna in 1963-64. Ironically, Luciano Spalletti prepared to do this against the club with which he began his career. This game also gave them the opportunity to close up further on Fiorentina in the race for Champions League spots. A 2-1 away win at Club Brugge in the UEFA Cup midweek boosted confidence further, though Leandro Cufre' was suspended.
Empoli's situation couldn't be more different, as Gigi Cagni's arrival failed to stop them sliding into the relegation zone with just one win from their last 14 games.
Simone Perrotta is on stunning form at the moment and his early strike from the edge of the box was turned out for a corner by Cristian Cejas at full stretch.
There was bad news for Roma, as Francesco Totti was brought down from behind by Vanigli and his studs caught in the turf, turning his ankle right round in what looked to be a potentially serious injury. When medical staff removed the boot, there appeared to be bruising around his left ankle and he was stretchered off to make way for ex-Empoli man Vincenzo Montella.
It took a desperate Raggi header to stop Philippe Mexes nodding in from a corner kick, but Empoli essentially gifted Roma with their opener soon after.
Goalkeeper Cejas bizarrely opted to prod a wayward Antonio Busce' backpass into the path of Simone Perrotta, who gratefully only had to tap in from six yards.
Moro drilled wide from the edge of the area and there was a curious moment when referee Domenico Messina required treatment for an injury to his hand after slipping on the Stadio Olimpico turf.
Cejas needed two attempts to get a powerful Rodrigo Taddei left-foot strike from 25 metres under control.
A Sergio Almiron free kick wasn't dealt with effectively and Doni eventually captured the weak Busce' header.
Daniele De Rossi failed to make the most of a defensive error, as his shot was scuffed and charged down.
Empoli had a great chance to equalise after the restart, as Moro held up a set-piece for Nicola Pozzi at the back post, but he somehow managed to push it wide from less than a yard!
A couple of Amantino Mancini long-range efforts tested Cejas and there were signs of tension as Panucci and De Rossi were seen bickering on the field.
Mancini and Montella combined brilliantly, but the Empoli defence was able to clear at the last moment. From the resulting Mancini corner, De Rossi and Panucci just failed to push in at the back post.
Empoli became more aggressive in the closing stages and Doni flew across the face of goal to fingertip a delightful Igli Vannucchi lob out of the top corner.
Cejas had to tip a deflected Mancini free kick out from under the crossbar in stoppages.
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