Francesco Totti was inspirational just two days after his 40th birthday, providing three assists as Roma crushed Astra 4-0 in the Europa League.

See how the action unfurled in all four of today’s games in the Liveblog.

Francesco Totti was inspirational just two days after his 40th birthday, providing three assists as Roma crushed Astra 4-0 in the Europa League.

See how the action unfurled in all four of today’s games in the Liveblog.

The Giallorossi had a rough start to this season, crashing out of the Champions League play-offs, drawing 1-1 at Viktoria Plzen and losing two of their last three Serie A games. Francesco Totti was in the starting XI just two days after his 40th birthday, but Daniele De Rossi and Emerson Palmieri were suspended with Mario Rui, Thomas Vermaelen and Antonio Rudiger injured. Romanians Astra qualified for the tournament after stunning West Ham United in the play-offs, but were in dire financial trouble and the squad hadn’t been paid since June.

Alisson was decisive within five minutes, as Juan Jesus failed to keep the offside trap and the goalkeeper twice parried from point-blank range on Viorel Nicoara.

Roma broke through as a Totti free kick was floated to the back post for Kevin Strootman’s delicate side-foot finish from six yards.

Totti was booked for a very late tackle from behind, but also provided splendid assists that Mohamed Salah and Juan Manuel Iturbe did not make the most of. There was even a divine back-heel pass for Salah when the captain was facing the wrong way.

Lung rushed off his line to smother Salah’s finish at the near post, but Roma doubled their lead with the last kick of the first half.

Totti was again involved, unleashing a ground-to-air missile of a free kick that was heading into the near top corner until Lung tipped it on to the bar and Federico Fazio nodded in the rebound.

It was 3-0 after the restart, as Diego Perotti got to the by-line and pulled back for Fabricio to clumsily bundle into his own goal.

Iturbe turned his marker to smash just past the upright and Salah added a fourth with yet another Totti assist. The captain dinked a pass over the top for Salah to volley with the outside of his left boot from eight yards, delicately flicking it past the ‘keeper.

A Totti free kick taken low at the near post was deflected on to the side-netting, while Leandro Paredes threatened with two ferocious strikes.

Alisson still had some work to do, as his gloves were stung by ex-Inter striker Dennis Alibec on the counter. Totti send Iturbe clear with a perfectly-timed pass, but the Paraguayan is visibly lacking in confidence and hesitated, allowing the defence to close him down.

Roma 4-0 Astra

Strootman 15 (R), Fazio 45 (R), Fabricio og 47 (R), Salah 55 (R)

Roma: Alisson; Peres (Florenzi 63), Manolas, Fazio, Jesus; Paredes, Strootman (Gerson 69); Salah (Nainggolan 57), Perotti, Iturbe; Totti

Astra Giurgiu: Lung; Lazic (D Niculae 61), Geraldo Alves, Fabricio, Morais; Mansaly (Lovin 46), Seto, Sapunaru; Texeira, Alibec, Nicoara

Ref: Aghayev (AZE)

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