|
Alberto Aquilani's first goal since September and a Francesco Totti screamer helped Roma thrash Parma 4-0.
The Giallorossi were still smarting from the last-gasp 1-1 draw at Inter on Wednesday night, leaving them nine points adrift of the leaders and with their Scudetto dreams in shatters. They also had to prepare for the visit to Real Madrid, but there was not as much squad rotation as expected. Parma had only one focus - climbing out of the relegation zone. Philippe Mexes was suspended and Marco Cassetti injured.
Before kick-off there was a ceremony in which Giacomo Losi handed the captain's armband to Francesco Totti, as this week Er Pupone beat his record of 386 Serie A appearances for the club.
Ludovic Giuly fired just wide in the opening minute on Totti's assist, but Daniele Dessena was dangerous at the other end when nodding a corner kick on to the roof of the net.
Matteo Ferrari's error let Igor Budan get away from him and brought a tough save out of Alexander Doni at the near post.
Rodrigo Taddei got in front of Zenoni to turn his header just past the base of the upright.
The deadlock was eventually broken on 27 minutes to take the psychological pressure off Roma. Luca Bucci had to shoulder much of the blame, as he prodded a Max Tonetto cross on to the feet of Alberto Aquilani, who did not hesitate to stroke in with the inside of his left foot. The midfielder has struggled with injuries over the past two years and it was his first goal since September 2. It was a classic Roma move, as Aquilani had started it from the centre-circle and a series of passes later concluded the strike.
Giuly blasted over from distance, then Bucci made up for the earlier error by rushing out to smother the ball at Taddei's feet. The move continued and Totti flashed a shot across the face of goal.
Andrea Gasbarroni scored a brilliant free kick last week against Torino and almost repeated it by shaking the side-netting.
Straight after the restart Roma doubled their lead when Giulio Falcone accidentally and acrobatically knocked the ball into his own net as he tried to anticipate Christian Panucci.
Parma thought they were right back in the game moments later, but Budan's goal was harshly disallowed for a Castellini handling offence, as the contact was unclear. There was tension on the Gialloblu bench as Ferdinand Coly visibly swore at Coach Mimmo Di Carlo when he was substituted.
Taddei was a little too generous in passing to Totti rather than going for goal himself and Bucci plucked the deflected finish out of the air. There was controversy on 76 minutes when Falcone's backpass was picked up by Bucci for an indirect free kick from eight yards, but Totti's strike was deflected over off the on-rushing Parma players. It caused problems, as Aquilani had a brief argument with his captain over how he should have taken it.
Totti made up for it moments later, as Mauro Esposito's backheel on the right channel was smacked into the far top corner by Totti's right-foot screamer from outside the box. Bucci had no chance on a shot of such power.
Mirko Vucinic's effort on the bounce was fingertipped out from under the crossbar by the Parma goalkeeper and from the resulting corner Esposito's header was over.
Parma gave up entirely and a disastrous clearance by Zenoni basically turned into an assist for Vucinic to net from six yards.
| 
