| Alberto Aquilani gave Roma a slender 2-1 victory over Messina, but Daniele De Rossi was stretchered off after a gesture of fair play. The Giallorossi's incredible run of results came to an end this week with defeat at Ascoli and Wednesday's UEFA Cup exit to Middlesbrough. Cristian Chivu and Philippe Mexes are suspended, while both goalkeepers Alexander Doni and Gianluca Curci have niggling injuries. Messina earned a crucial win over Lecce and could count on Roma-owned midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino, but had Carmine Coppola, Marco Zanchi and Massimo Donati banned.
Curci almost had a disastrous start after three minutes, as he missed the ball when he came out to gather and Sergio Floccari was prevented from pushing into an empty net by Christian Panucci.
On the counter-attack, Edgar Alvarez also threatened at the other end of the field.
It was Roma who took the lead with Simone Perrotta's fifth goal of the season. The midfielder caught the Messina defence napping and burst through to nod in Panucci's cross from six yards, practically taking it out of goalkeeper Marco Storari's hands.
Amantino Mancini really should've made it 2-0 soon after when he got on the end of an Alvarez cross, but somehow managed to nod it wide of the near post.
Perrotta aimed another header off target, then a spectacular Mancini volley was over the bar.
Storari performed an extraordinary double save after another defensive error, keeping out both Alberto Aquilani and Perrotta from point-blank range.
The Giallorossi hit the back of the net after 35 minutes when Mancini's free kick took a touch off Daniele De Rossi. The referee was ready to allow the goal before De Rossi confessed that he had pushed it in with his hand and play resumed with a free kick.
After the restart, an indirect free kick was touched on for Alessandro Parisi and Curci just about managed to beat it away.
De Rossi drilled wide on the counter-attack, but Roma finally doubled their lead with Aquilani's splendid solo effort.
The Giallorossi youth product picked up the ball in midfield and ran forward unchallenged before curling a marvellous right-foot finish into the far corner from outside the box.
Messina didn't give in and Curci performed a crucial intervention on Sergio Floccari's angled drive, pushing it away with an outstretched foot.
The Sicilians got one back with substitute Arturo Di Napoli netting within minutes of stepping on to the fiekd. He struck on the counter-attack, holding off Samuel Kuffour's challenge and putting his shot into the net despite Curci getting a hand to it and Aleandro Rosi's attempted goalline clearance.
Perrotta's long-range strike was well over as the UEFA Cup strains started to take their toll on Roma in the closing stages.
Curci had to make another decsive save to keep them in the lead, rushing off his line to charge down Floccari's finish.
The Roma goalkeeper flew to fingertip a looping Marco Zoro header out from under the crossbar.
De Rossi was stretchered off after falling awkwardly as he leapt up for a corner kick and has suffered a suspected sprained ankle.
Yet Storari was also called into action with a fine save to turn Mancini's snapshot round the post.
Moments later, Storari's error saw a Stefano Okaka drive squirm away from him, but fortunately for him it was off target.
Antonelli's header was wide of the upright deep into stoppages, as Messina capitulated in the Stadio Olimpico.
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