AS Roma 4 - 0 Sampdoria

Roma 4-0 Sampdoria

Updated: April 15, 2007, 11:34 AM ET

ROME, April 15 (Serie A)- Roma put their nightmare Champions League defeat against Manchester United behind them with an emphatic victory over Sampdoria on Sunday.

The Giallorossi went into the encounter at the Stadio Olimpico on the back of a 7-1 midweek loss to Manchester United which saw their dreams of progressing to the semi-final stages of Europe's elite club competition crushed.

Roma captain Francesco Totti gave the hosts a 20th minute lead before scoring his second shortly after the hour mark.

Matteo Ferrari soon added another for Roma before veteran defender Cristian Panucci made it 4-0 three minutes from time.

The outcome sees the Giallorossi take a firm grip on second position in the standings with eight games remaining.

The hosts dominated possession and should have taken an early lead.

Francesco Tavano was unable to get behind Amantino Mancini's dangerous cross towards the far post.

Samp responded with Fabio Quagliarella's acrobatic shot going high.

With 11 minutes played, Simone Perrotta warmed the hands of Samp goalkeeper Gianluca Berti with a long-distance strike.

The hosts continued to press forward and midway through the first half their efforts were rewarded.

Totti's right-footed effort towards the far post stunned Berti.

The goal inspired the Romans, who twice had the opportunity to double their advantage soon after.

A fast-counter attack by Mancini saw him serve an unmarked Perrotta, whose volley went wide.

Seconds later, Perrotta again struck wide from Totti's assist.

On 39 minutes, Doni made a one-handed save from Andrea Parola's powerful right-footed strike in what looked to be the equaliser.

The Giallorossi should have gone into the break with an emphatic lead but Christian Chivu's left-footed strike beat Berti but rebounded off the right post.

Berti was then forced to fully stretch to clear Totti's stinging drive from outside the area in what was the last opportunity of the opening half.

Samp came to life in the second half and Quagliarella should have equalised shortly after, but the striker was unable to find the finishing touch from Marco Delvecchio's clever assist inside the area.

Shortly after, Quagliarella's right-footed effort was deflected by Philippe Mexes wide off target.

Samp's efforts proved to no avail as on the hour mark Serie A's current top scorer Totti struck again.

Totti's close-range strike from Mancini's assist beat Berti.

The goal proved a hammer blow for the Genoa outfit, who almost conceded the third seconds later.

Mancini's consecutive efforts went inches wide of Berti's far post as Roma called the shots.

It was not long before the Giallorossi hit again. Totti's cross from the left found an unmarked Ferrari inside the area and the defender's powerful header beat Berti.

Samp coach Walter Novellino could not hide his frustration with his team's performance and was soon given his marching orders for dissent.

Panucci capped a wonderful afternoon for the hosts late in the second half.

The defender was first to a Totti free-kick to fire past Berti.