Roma vs. Napoli

The Derby del Sud has always been a fiery occasion and Claudio Ranieri described this as a game "between two wounded teams." The Giallorossi scraped a stoppage-time 1-1 draw at Catania last weekend and were without Cicinho, Julio Baptista, Juan, Jeremy Menez, Alexandr Doni, Philippe Mexes, Rodrigo Taddei and Matteo Brighi. Roberto Donadoni escaped the sack thanks to a 3-1 win over Siena, but was still hanging by a thread. Fabiano Santacroce and Hugo Campagnaro missed this match.

After three minutes Francesco Totti threaded through for Simone Perrotta, whose chip was deflected wide off Morgan De Sanctis' ribs. John Arne Riise also drilled wide, but Roma's injury woes got worse when Marco Motta limped off with a left knee problem.

Ranieri was again forced to call from the bench when Julio Sergio - already second choice goalkeeper - picked up a suspected right thigh strain and made way for Bogdan Lobont's debut.

Lobont lasted all of four minutes before conceding his first goal. Marek Hamsik pulled back from the left for Ezequiel Lavezzi to spin round and place a low drive between a sea of legs. It slipped in at the near bottom corner and Lobont let it squirm through his fingers.

Jesus Datolo's screamer from distance shaved a coat of paint off the near post and there was a scuffle between Mirko Vucinic and Paolo Cannavaro, earning both a booking.

Roma equalised with a remarkable stroke of luck. Vucinic got to the left byline and pulled back for Perrotta's wayward shot, but the ball ricocheted off Totti's knee and looped over De Sanctis into the far top corner.

Fabio Quagliarella tried to take advantage of a David Pizarro error to lob the goalkeeper, but Lobont got back in time.

Roma completed their substitutions at the start of the second half when Ricardo Faty replaced Alessio Cerci for a diamond midfield. The Giallorossi went close to taking the advantage for the first time when De Sanctis stuck out a foot to deny Totti's shot from point-blank range.

Totti doubled his tally to give Roma a 2-1 lead just past the hour mark. He had been at risk with a back problem, but gathered just outside the D from Cassetti to spin round his marker and fire low into the net. He didn't celebrate as he was clutching his knee and required treatment, but with all the substitutions completed, he had to grit his teeth. That goal was his 184th in Serie A, matching Gabriel Batistuta's tally.

Datolo had penalty appeals for a Cassetti handling offence and Faty's impressive volley was just off target. As Totti was basically unable to run at all, Roma were effectively playing with 10 men and Napoli poured forward.

Hoffer's header from a Datolo cross skimmed the frame of the goal, but Roma held on for the victory.