Roma hammer Palermo

Roma have returned to winning ways in Serie A with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Palermo at the Stadio Olimpico.

The hosts started controlling the match right from the start and did not have to wait long before scoring their first goal of the night.

Captain Francesco Totti put Roma in front in the 11th minute when he headed home Ivan Piris's delivery

Then just moments after the half-hour mark, Zdenek Zeman's side went 2-0 up when Pablo Osvaldo shot home from the right side of the box.

It could have become 3-0 to the Giallorossi in the early minutes of the second half when Nicolas Burdisso headed Totti's cross towards the Palermo goal, only to see it saved by Samir Ujkani.

Roma eventually found the target for the third time in the game in the 69th minute, Erik Lamela turning in Panagiotis Tachtsidis's cross from close range.

Ten minutes later Mattia Destro made it 4-0 to Roma when he latched on to Lamela's through ball and slotted home from close range.

The 21-year-old was subsequently sent off for excessive celebrations.

Josip Ilicic eventually scored a consolation goal for Palermo with just six minutes of normal time left on the clock, when he shot home from the centre of the box with his left foot.