Francesco Totti signed off a successful 2007 with both goals as Roma beat Sampdoria 2-0 on Saturday night to keep in the title race in Italy.Totti opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 17 minutes and the sending-off of Samp stalwart Sergio Volpi further tilted the balance towards the men from the Eternal City.

Totti rounded things off with his second in the last minute to cap a year where he has been exemplary for Roma, having finished "capocannoniere" (Serie A top scorer) last season.

The victory helped Roma trim Inter's lead to four points although the champions could make that seven by winning Sunday's derby with city rivals AC Milan.

Meanwhile, Genoa ended their nine-game search for a win thanks to a narrow 1-0 victory over Parma at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium on Saturday.

A Marco Borriello penalty two minutes before the interval was enough for Genoa to keep all three points for the first time since October 7, when they defeated Cagliari at home.

It also lifted them above their opponents to 10th in the table and a more comfortable position heading into the two-week Christmas break.

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