Roma win at Palermo to keep up with AC Milan, Juventus

Philippe Mexes and Alberto Aquilani secured Roma's win in a first half dominated by the Rome guests who came close also with efforts from Rodrigo Taddei, Mirko Vucinic and a free kick from captain Francesco Totti.

 The French defender easily laid in a cross from Taddei after just three minutes, while Aquilani on 27 minutes drilled a smashing drive to the left of Alberto Fontana.

 The host's best chances in the first half came from defender Ciro Capuano, who nodded against the bar on 11 minutes, and from a fierce Fabrizio Miccoli free kick that Doni dived to deflect four minutes later.

 Vucinic must have felt he had scored on 39 minutes when he came face to face with Fontana beating him with a lob that Leandro Rinaudo cleared from the goal line.

 Fontana saved a Totti free kick on 40 minutes and was crucial early after the break blocking a shot from Ludovic Giuly followed by a tap in from Vucinic.

 The 40-year-old keeper deflected wide a Totti drive on the hour, and Miccoli replied with a shot that shook the post to the right of the diving Doni.

 A miraculous save from the Brazilian keeper denied Edison Cavani's close-range shot on 75 minutes in what turned out to be the game's last thrill.

 In earlier Sunday action, champions Inter Milan with 10 men had to settle for a 1-1 draw against visitors Udinese, AC Milan crushed newcomers Genoa 3-0 and Juventus hammered Livorno 5-1 on Saturday.

DPA