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Francesco Totti showed he hasn't lost confidence as his brace - including an audacious penalty - defeated Sampdoria 2-0.
The Giallorossi needed all they could get from this game after falling seven points behind leaders Inter. Francesco Totti returned from an ankle injury, but Rodrigo Taddei, Alberto Aquilani and the suspended Philippe Mexes were sidelined. Samp were without former Roma starlet Antonio Cassano due to a ban - something that saw him burst into tears in the middle of last week's 2-2 draw with Fiorentina. Vincenzo Montella was also out of action.
A minute's silence was held before every game this weekend after 18-year-old referee Lorenzo Moreno collapsed and died during a match in Verona today.
Emiliano Bonazzoli and Christian Maggio combined to cause problems early on, but Totti tried to dribble past several Samp players in the box and eventually saw his progress cut short.
Luca Castellazzi did well to parry Marco Cassetti's attempt after a lucky ricochet sent him clear on the edge of the box.
After just 17 minutes the referee pointed to the spot for a Stefano Lucchini shirt tug on Matteo Ferrari as a free kick was floated into the area. Totti stepped up and audaciously chipped his penalty over Castellazzi - showing there was no loss of confidence during his long injury lay-off.
David Pizarro's effort from distance accidentally hit Totti, but at the other end Max Tonetto's error sparked a counter-attack and Alexander Doni stuck out a strong hand to push Maggio's shot round the near post.
Soon after a Sergio Volpi free kick curled to the back post where Lucchini ballooned over with the inside of his right foot from six yards.
Castellazzi smothered Daniele De Rossi and Mirko Vucinic snapshots from 20 metres, then rushed out to close down Simone Perrotta after the midfielder had combined at speed with Totti.
After the break Totti's splendid flick round the back of his standing leg found Vucinic inside the box, but the Montenegrin was charged down. Pizarro's free kick from distance curled right on to the roof of the net.
Perrotta almost scored one of the goals of the season after 53 minutes. Totti flicked on a throw-in and the World Cup winning midfielder smashed a right-foot shot on the bounce that cracked against the top of the crossbar.
Perrotta was on splendid form and soon after Volpi was forced to body-check him down on the counter, earning an inevitable second yellow card. From the resulting well-worked free kick, Castellazzi captured a deflected De Rossi effort.
Claudio Bellucci pounced on a ricochet to turn a free header over, as 10-man Samp did not sit back, but the ball did not fall kindly for Perrotta from six yards and Hugo Campagnaro did just enough to prevent a certain goal.
From the resulting corner a Perrotta scissor-kick from the edge of the box was well held, but substitute Amantino Mancini was unlucky as his shot flashed across the face of goal to take a coat of paint off the far post.
The Blucerchiati weren't out of it yet and Tonetto charged down Emiliano Bonazzoli's volley. 10-man Sampdoria almost snatched an equaliser three minutes from time, as Doni performed a stunning one-handed save on Andrea Caracciolo's volley. From the corner Campagnaro ballooned over unmarked at the back post.
Doni's save proved decisive, as in the final minute Totti scored his second of the game. Most of the credit goes to Cassetti, who sprinted down the left flank and rolled across for the captain to stroke home from a couple of yards. It was Totti's 160th Serie A goal.
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