Francesco Totti returned to scoring while Alessandro Florenzi scored a spectacular overhead kick as Roma ran riot in the capital city with their 4-0 drubbing of Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon.
Roma came into the game without the suspended Leandro Castan and Daniele De Rossi motivated by their first loss of the league to Juventus last Sunday evening.
Radja Nainggolan, who was making his debut for the Giallrossi, attempted to open the scoring when he spun round Cabral to fire straight at the goalkeeper, but the hosts needed a moment of absolute magic to break the deadlock.
Totti’s free kick was deflected up into the air and fell into the path of Florenzi. The youngster watched it come down before hitting a sensational overhead kick that ricocheted in off the inside of the post. An incredible goal by the Italy international in the 25th minute.
Five minutes later the Roma captain got his name on the scoresheet after Gervinho was denied by Mattia Perin on the counter. The Ivoirian then set up Totti for a low drive which took a deflection en-route to the back of the net.
Florenzi was also involved in setting up the Scudetto contenders’ third goal of the afternoon when his curling cross met Douglas Maicon. The Brazilian pranced his way through two centre-backs to fire home under the bar just before the break.
Roma’s onslaught only continued when Mehdi Benatia made it 4-0, scoring his fifth goal of the season, with his glancing header from six-yards out.
The victory means Roma maintain the eight points gap they fall short of against Juventus, following their Bianconeri’s 4-1 bashing of Cagliari in Sardinia.
