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Roma started their season with an impressive 2-0 victory away to Palermo thanks to Philippe Mexes and an Alberto Aquilani screamer.
The big match of the opening weekend saw the ambitious Sicilians welcome a Roma side buoyed by their Italian Super Cup triumph over Inter and eager to prove their Scudetto credentials. This has always been a high-scoring fixture and with Amauri playing his first official game since rupturing knee ligaments in December partnering new buy Fabrizio Miccoli, more were expected.
Franco Brienza and Aimo Diana sat out bans, while the visitors were without Juan, Matteo Ferrari, Marco Andreolli and the suspended Simone Perrotta. Cicinho was on the bench despite his international transfer from Real Madrid only coming through on Friday.
New Rosanero boss Stefano Colantuono was given a warm welcome by the Stadio Barbera and Alberto Aquilani celebrated his 100th official appearance in a Giallorossi jersey.
Rodrigo Taddei's shot was deflected and Alberto 'Jimmy' Fontana fingertipped it over the bar. Roma had a blistering start and took the lead just three minutes in. Once again Taddei was given too much room and his cross was volleyed in by Philippe Mexes.
Ludovic Giuly cut back for an Aquilani volley off target, but Palermo went incredibly close to an equaliser. Fabrizio Miccoli's cross got a touch off Amauri, then the ball floated back into the air and was headed on to the crossbar by Ciro Capuano.
Miccoli ran rings around the Roma defence and Alexander Doni flew to palm away the 'Romario del Salento's free kick.
Giuly has settled right in to life at Roma and dribbled past four players before he was eventually tackled successfully in the box.
The Giallorossi made it 2-0 with a spectacular goal from Aquilani, celebrating his 100th official appearance for Roma. The midfielder was almost 30 metres away when he unleashed a powerful right-foot screamer that slotted in at the near post.
It would have been three on 38 minutes when Mirko Vucinic lobbed the 'keeper, but Leandro Rinaudo performed a goalline clearance to keep Palermo in the game.
Moments later Fontana was at full stretch to parry a powerful low Totti free kick with one hand. A cheeky Vucinic volley with the outside of his right foot failed to take Fontana by surprise.
Taddei's diving header whistled inches wide of the upright from Totti's chipped cross, but just before half-time Cristian Zaccardo nodded on to the roof of the net.
Palermo were utterly dominated, so Colantuono made a double change at half-time. Mark Bresciano and Edison Cavani came on for a new 4-3-3 system. They looked like a different team and Bresciano's header was just wide.
Andrea Barzagli threw himself at Totti's finish to turn it out for a corner and from the resulting set-piece Fontana performed a stunning double save on Giuly and Vucinic.
Palermo's tactical switch was complete when ex-Atalanta midfielder Giulio Migliaccio came on for Roberto Guana. Cavan's powerful snapshot skimmed the upright and a Mexes diving header denied Amauri a certain goal from Cavani's assist. From the corner, Doni held Migliaccio's header.
It was end to end stuff now and Fontana pushed up a strong hand to tip Totti's strike out from under the crossbar.
But the Rosanero were incredibly unlucky when Miccoli struck low and true from 20 metres to beat Doni, but it cannoned off the base of the far post!
There was barely time to breathe between opportunities for either side as Palermo came forward like a team possessed. Luciano Spalletti tried to stem the tide by introducing midfielder Matteo Brighi for forward Vucinic.
Rinaudo nodded a Simplicio corner over the bar - anticipating teammate Migliaccio in a better position. Doni required a fantastic reaction save on Cavani from point-blank range set up by Miccoli, sticking out a hand to preserve the 2-0 lead.
There was a chaotic move moments later. Simplicio's free kick was hit back into the centre by Cavani and Amauri tried to backheel it, but several desperate defensive challenges managed to clear it off the line.
Roma gave new signing Cicinho his debut for Giuly just days after his transfer from Real Madrid was completed.
Amauri spun round inside the area for a half-volley well blocked by fellow Brazilian Doni. There was a clash of heads between Amauri and Marco Cassetti, the Roma full-back getting the worst of it, but was able to continue.
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