Totti keeps Roma reigning

AS Roma captain Francesco Totti scored twice in the 3-1 win against UC Sampdoria on Sunday which ensured the capital club reached the halfway stage of the Serie A season with a record points tally.

Delightful double
Totti was outstanding for the Italian leaders, who had to come from behind at the Stadio Olimpico after Fabio Bazzani's sixth-minute strike gave the visitors the lead. John Carew's towering header from an Antonio Cassano cross put Fabio Capello's side back on level terms and then Totti took centre stage. The playmaker put the home side ahead with a 61st-minute diving header and then capped a fine solo run with a glorious chip over former Roma goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli midway through the second half to seal all three points.

Record tally
The victory took Roma's points tally to 42 from 17 games, a record tarnished only by the defeat in early January against AC Milan, who are level pegging with Juventus FC three points behind the leaders. But only a solitary 81st-minute goal from Giuseppe Pancaro secured Milan victory against a stubborn Brescia Calcio side at the Mario Rigamonti in Sunday's late game.

Del Piero hat-trick
Alessandro Del Piero scored a hat-trick to help Juventus to a 4-2 win against AC Siena. The Turin side raced into a four-goal lead, with Del Piero bursting into the area to wrap up his treble after two penalties either side of a David Trezeguet strike. Nicola Ventola scored twice in the last 15 minutes, the first from the penalty spot, as Ancona tried in vain to salvage a draw.

Inter rocked
Parma AC's 1-1 draw with Udinese Calcio on Saturday means Claudio Prandelli's side now sit level on points with fourth-placed FC Internazionale, who were stunned 1-0 at home by lowly Empoli FC. Tommaso Rocchi's sliding finish deep into added time rocked the San Siro club, who left out Christian Vieri, as Empoli recorded their first away win of the season to move up to 16th place.

Early strikes
Another struggling side to win away from home was US Lecce, who ended an eight-match run without victory by defeating ten-man Reggina Calcio 3-1 thanks in part to two goals inside the opening four minutes. Andrea Sottil was dismissed for the home side, who now sit just one place above the relegation zone.

Bologna joy
With the game between Ancona Calcio and AC Perugia finishing goalless, the day's only other winners were Bologna FC, who beat AC Chievo Verona 3-1 to chalk up their third successive victory and climb up to eleventh spot.