SERIE A: AS Roma racked up their fifth win in a row to climb to second in Serie A when they won 4-2 at Sampdoria yesterday.

The result - courtesy of two goals by captain Francesco Totti and one each for midfielder Simone Perrotta and defender Christian Panucci - gave Roma 29 points, four behind leaders Inter Milan.

The Roma side that travelled north to Genoa resembled more the one that thrashed Catania 7-0 last weekend than the one that slithered to a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk midweek.

A second-half goal by Patrick Vieira, his first for the club since his close-season transfer from Juventus, extended Inter's winning run to nine matches in league and cup competitions.

The champions dominated the match, taking an early lead through Zlatan Ibrahimovic before Palermo's Brazilian striker Amauri equalised on the stroke of half-time.

Roma's city rivals Lazio also continued their good form, making it three league wins in a row as Manuel Belleri, Goran Pandev and Pasquale Foggia scored to sink Ascoli 3-1.

Elsewhere, Livorno hung on to fourth place with 20 points despite letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Reggina.

Livorno seemed well in control against the southerners as Fabio Galante and Cristiano Lucarelli scored inside the opening half hour.

Reggina, however, pulled level through strikers Rolando Bianchi and Julio Leon, and Livorno were left hanging on for a point after the late sending off of midfielder Dario Passoni for a second bookable offence.

Paolo Maldini came to the rescue of under-fire AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti on Saturday by heading the only goal of the game from an Andrea Pirlo free kick in the 13th minute of the match.

Milan, who had won just one of their previous nine matches, dominated the match but failed to convert a series of chances.