Luca Toni scored his first brace in a Roma jersey to crush Genoa at the Olimpico and send the Giallorossi into third place.

It was a head-to-head for European spots and saw Toni again lead a resurgent Roma despite Francesco Totti's injury. The Giallorossi were unbeaten in 10 and reached the Coppa Italia quarter-finals midweek, while Julio Sergio returned to replace the suspended Alexander Doni. Rodrigo Palacio joined the Genoa injury list with Raffaele Palladino and Bosko Jankovic.

Toni's glancing header from six yards was off target, then Marco Amelia flew to palm a powerful Mirko Vucinic free kick out from under the bar. From the resulting corner, Roma took the lead. Amelia again did well to flap at a point-blank Juan header, but could do nothing on Simone Perrotta's follow-up at the back post.

Genoa lost Giuseppe Sculli to injury and brought on ex-Roma midfielder Fatic.

On 33 minutes Roma went close again, as Amelia needed his legs to beat a Toni header off the line from a corner kick.

Toni sent the Olimpico wild with his first goal in a Roma jersey. On the stroke of half-time Vucinic got down the right channel and rolled across for Toni to come sliding in from six yards.

Just shy of the hour mark Toni got his second of the game, rising above the crowd at the back post to nod in Vucinic's free kick. Genoa disappeared from the match.