Roma held off bitter rivals Lazio to take the spoils in the first Derby Delle Captitale of the season with a 3-2 win that sees them keep the pressure on leaders Internazionale, who beat Genoa 4-1.

In a thoroughly entertaining game at the Stadio Olimpico, Lazio took the lead through Tommaso Rocchi's early strike before goals from Mirko Vucinic, Mancini and Simone Perrotta saw the hosts for the night take a 3-1 lead.

Cristian Ledesma's 68th minute free-kick set up an exciting finish, but Roma - who were without talismanic captain Francesco Totti through injury - held on to remain within three points of Inter and a point ahead of third-placed Juventus who also won, against Empoli, thanks to a David Trezeguet hat-trick.

It was a good night for the top clubs, and Fiorentina recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Napoli to stay level on points with Juve while Udinese kept a tight grip on fifth place with a 2-1 win over Torino.

Elsewhere, struggling Milan hit five past Sampdoria in Genoa.

If the Roman crowd packed into the Olimpico were expecting a tight cagey affair, as can so often be the case in games where both sides are so desperate to win, they were proved wrong soon after the opening whistle.

Rocchi set the tone with a volley from Lorenzo De Silvestre's cross which flew just wide of the mark as early as the second minute of the match. Massimo Mutarelli then saw a header from a corner well saved by Roma keeper Doni as Lazio enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges.

So it came as no surprise when the 'visitors' went into the lead on 12 minutes through a masterclass in finishing from Rocchi. The little forward superbly controlled a long ball from strike partner Goran Pandev, taking the ball past the hesitating Philippe Mexes in one swift movement before slotting past Doni in the Roma net.

The goal seemed to focus Roma's attention and, still full of confidence following their 1-0 win over Milan at the San Siro on Sunday, the Giallorossi began to play the ball around more comfortably and impose themselves on the game.

Vucinic had a great chance to pull Roma level just before he did find the back of net, only for Marco Ballotta to race off his line quickly to make the save when the striker had been put through by Juan's clever pass.

But there was nothing the veteran keeper could do three minutes later, when Mancini and Vucinic linked up brilliantly with quick-fire interchange of passes which the Montenegrin striker finished off with a crisp first time strike from around the penalty spot.

Chances fell to either side as the remainder of the first half saw the game swing from end to end - Goran Pandev for Lazio and Vucinic for Roma most notably - but it was the Giallorossi who went into the dressing rooms in the lead as Mancini fired past Ballotta in the 42nd minute, after a neat one-two with a very advanced Mexes.

The second half started just as the first had ended - with goal mouth action. Guglielmo Stendardo headed straight at the keeper for Lazio soon after the restart, before Perrotta did the same at the other end when he possibly should have done better.

But the Manchester-born Italy international was not so wasteful when presented another chance to score two minutes later, latching onto a clever knock-down from Vucinic before lofting the ball over the advancing Ballotta and applying the finishing touch.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Lazio and Roma took advantage to stamp their authority on the game - Perrotta could have sealed the points with a cute chip minutes after the third went in, but this time Ballotta was equal to his effort.

It seemed unlikely, but Lazio managed to get back into the game with 20 minutes remaining after a brilliant piece of individual skill from Ledesma.

The young Argentine, who had struggled to impose himself on the game up until that point, whipped a delicious free-kick, right-footed, in off the underside of the bar, with Doni beaten all ends up.

A grandstand finish ensued, as Mutarelli hit the side-netting and Rocchi saw an effort convincingly dealt with by Doni, but Roma held on to spark wild celebrations at the Olimpico, not least from the watching Totti.

Atalanta 2-2 Cagliari

Michele Fini's penalty before halftime boosted the visitors after Atalanta striker Riccardo Zampagna, later sent off, had blocked a cross with his arm.

Cagliari appeared to have won another penalty early in the second period but the officials changed their mind and Atalanta defender Daniele Capelli equalised from close range.

Alessandro Matri thought he had won it for the Sardinians but another peach of a freekick from Cristiano Doni brought the hosts level again 10 minutes from time.

Fiorentina 1-0 Napoli

Christian Vieri clipped in Adrian Mutu's low cross after 60 minutes to keep unbeaten Fiorentina on the tail of Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

Napoli's Roberto Sosa had a header harshly ruled out for a slight push as he jumped but the visitors did not have the fluency shown in last weekend's 3-1 win over Juve.

Internazionale 4-1 Genoa

Defender Ivan Cordoba nodded the leaders ahead in the eighth minute after Hernan Crespo's header rebounded off the bar from Javier Zanetti's cross.

Esteban Cambiasso tapped in the second after Luis Figo's weak free kick was spilled before Abdoulay Konko grabbed one back for the visitors.

David Suazo went straight up the other end to score his first Inter goal thanks to some chaotic Genoa defending and the Honduran was then brought down with four minutes to go for a penalty which Julio Cruz converted.

Juventus 3-0 Empoli

David Trezeguet bagged his second hat-trick of the season but Juventus had to wait until the second half to erase memories of Saturday's controversial 3-1 defeat at Napoli.

They took the lead five minutes after the break when Trezeguet was felled by the legs of Empoli goalkeeper Daniele Balli and then just about converted the penalty himself.

The France striker grabbed his second when he rose to head in a freekick at the near post and made it 10 goals for the season with a tap in after Balli parried Tiago's effort.

Empoli are now third from bottom.

Palermo 1-1 Parma

Amauri's late penalty saved a point for the Sicilians after Stefano Morrone gave the visitors an early lead when he was left unmarked in the area to guide the ball inside the far post.

Reggina 1-3 Livorno

Livorno swapped places with Reggina at the bottom after their first victory of the season.

Nico Pulzetti put the visitors ahead when he shot through goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo's legs from the edge of the box. Experienced striker Nicola Amoruso hit back quickly with a header after 37 minutes when the defence failed to clear.

Reggina's Carlo Valdez netted an own goal and Livorno's Fausto Rossini clinched the win with a breakaway goal late on.

Sampdoria 0-5 Milan

Milan earned only their third league win of the season but did it in crushing style.

Striker Alberto Gilardino was the key, setting up Kaka for a simple finish and then heading in the second before an excellent tight turn in the area allowed the 25-year-old to make it 3-0.

Yoann Gourcuff and Clarence Seedorf added the other goals for the European champions, who were without suspended midfielder Massimo Ambrosini.

Siena 1-1 Catania

Juan Vargas's late goal for Catania levelled matters after Paolo De Ceglie had scored for the hosts with 10 minutes to go.

Massimo Maccarone had a swivelling effort saved in the first half before his penalty was blocked by Ciro Polito after Lorenzo Stovini carelessly brought down Tomas Locatelli.

Udinese 2-1 Torino

The home side triumphed in a frantic match which included two red cards.

Striker Antonio Floro Flores headed in Fabio Quagliarella's knock back from a corner to give Udinese the lead. Torino midfielder Tommaso Vailatti was then sent off just before the break for kicking out at an opponent.

Swiss Goekhan Inler bagged the second for the hosts with a swerving long range effort before Udinese's Andrea Dossena was also dismissed and Nicola Ventola grabbed one back for Toro.

Udinese decided not to play striker David Di Michele amid confusion about whether his three-month suspension for illegal betting expired on Wednesday or Thursday.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport