Roma hosted Sampdoria in their Serie A match at the Stadio Olimpico.
Mattia Destro gave the home side the lead at the end of the first half, when he headed in from a corner.
After the break Miralem Pjanic fired in a free kick, before Destro added a third with a powerful strike from close range.
Sampdoria finished the game with 10 men, after Daniele Gastaldello was sent off for picking up a second yellow card.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the Serie A match between Roma and Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma will be looking for their fourth win from five league matches today, as they look to keep pace with Juventus at the top of the table. They trail the league leaders by 12 points and know that a draw or a defeat will be a huge blow for their title hopes.
The visitors are unbeaten in their last three league matches and have claimed 1-0 wins in their last two outings. They are in 12th place in the league, and will leapfrog rivals Genoa if they can claim a victory this evening.
ROMA XI: De Sanctis, Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Torosidis, Pjanic, Nainggolan, Strootman, Florenzi, Destro, Gervinho
SAMPDORIA XI: Da Costa, De Silvestri, Mustafi, Gastaldello, Regini, Palombo, Krsticic, Gabbiadini, Soriano, Wszolek, Eder
TEAM NEWS: The big news for Roma fans is that Francesco Totti misses out with an injury. Mattia Destro replaces him in the starting XI, and joins Alessandro Florenzi and Gervinho in the attack. Daniele De Rossi is rested by Rudi Garcia, who brings Radja Nainggolan into the midfield. Meanwhile, Maxi Lopez is missing for Sampdoria so Roberto Soriano and Pawel Wszolek will offer support for lone striker Eder.
Following today's results this really is a huge game for the home side. Juventus extended their lead at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Chievo, while Napoli moved to within one point of them after a 2-0 victory over Sassuolo.
When these two sides met back in September Roma ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Mehdi Benatia and Gervinho. That was during a bad start to the season for Samp, who did not pick up a league win until their eighth game.
The arrival of Sinisa Mihajlovic has been key to the Blucerchiati's improved performances, with their relegation worries all but gone now. They will still have to be wary of the team's below them, but will surely be aiming for a top-half finish this season.
PREDICTION: It is hard to look beyond a victory for the Giallorossi this evening who have been in great form for much of the season. Their midweek defeat in the Coppa Italia may have an effect on the players, but they have shown that they can bounce back well from disappointing results. Sampdoria will be a hard team to beat, but I think the match will end in a 2-1 win for Roma.
Roma have one of the best home records in the league, with only Juventus picking up more points than they have. Sampdoria on the other hand tend to do well away from home, and have picked up three wins on the road so far this season.
The players are making their way onto the pitch and we are not too far away from kick off.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stadio Olimpico!
It has been a really positive start to the game by both teams, and they are looking to attack from the off. The home side almost fashion a chance as Torosidis is slipped in down the left, but he is unable to get his ball into the middle, and it heads out for a goal kick.
We haven't seen any strikes on goal yet, but the visitors will have a chance to get a number of players into the box after Eder wins a corner off of Benatia.
The ball is whipped into the middle and De Sanctis rushes out to punch the ball away. Sampdoria eventually find Gabbiadini just outside of the box, but he fires a shot well over the bar.
Destro latches onto a ball over the top and fires his effort straight at the keeper, but it wouldn't have counted if it had gone in, as the flag was correctly raised for offside.
Pjanic is fouled just outside of the area, which has given his side a great chance to trouble the Sampdoria defence from a free kick.
The free kick is whipped into the middle, but it is well overhit and fails to find anyone before heading out for a thrown in.
Gervinho does brilliantly for Roma to weave his way down the right wing and gets to the byline before pulling the ball back across the box, but Sampdoria have enough players back to deal with the danger.
The two sides have still not had any real goalscoring opportunities yet, and we haven't seen either keeper have to make a serious save.
Roma are enjoying plenty of the possession, with Sampdoria looking content to let them keep the ball and try to hit them on the counter attack when their moves break down.
Sampdoria are nearly in behind as a pass is launched over the top looking for the run of Eder, but the ball is slightly out of the reach of the striker and it bounces through to De Sanctis.
Roma are really struggling to get their forward players on the ball at the moment. They are definitely missing the influence of Totti and De Rossi in the final third.
OFF THE LINE! Gervinho comes close to giving Roma the lead, as he is played through on goal before lifting an effort over the on-rushing Da Costa, but Gastaldello gets back to clear his effort off the line.
Roma are starting to find more space in their opponents half and Pjanic strikes from range after being found by Torosidis, but he drags his low effort just wide of the post.
The visitors are next to threaten and Eder latches onto a pull back to strike at goal from just inside the box, with the effort comfortably dived on by De Sanctis.
CHANCE! Pjanic shows great skill to get in behind down the right and whips a teasing low ball across the box, but it is just out of the reach of the arriving Destro.
Pjanic again shows great skill down the right hand side and manages to pull the ball back for Maicon, but the Brazlian's strike is well blocked by the defence.
Florenzi delivers a wonderful ball from the right wing that is heading for Destro in the centre of the box, however Mustafi gets a vital touch at the front post to divert the ball away from him.
The home side have rarely troubled Da Costa in the visiting goal, and Nainggolan is the next to waste a chance as he fires over the bar from long range.
CHANCE! Roma should be in the lead. Sampdoria give the ball away poorly inside deep in their own half to Pjanic. The ball is played to Strootman in the middle, but he fires his effort straight at the keeper.
GOAL! Roma 1-0 Sampdoria (Destro)
With a minute of the half left, Roma have finally taken the lead. Pjanic whips a corner into the middle, and Destro rises highest to head the ball into the bottom corner past the reach of Da Costa.
YELLOW CARD! Destro picks up a booking for his celebrations following the goal.
We are going to have one minute of stoppage time at the end of the half.
HALF TIME: Roma 1-0 Sampdoria
The referee blows the whistle and the half comes to an end, with Roma leading Sampdoria 1-0 thanks to Mattia Destro's goal. They deserve to be in front after being the team who have shown the most positive attitude this evening.
Roma have dominated the possession so far, and have seen 62% of the ball in the first 45 minutes. They have had eight attempts on goal, compared to their opponent's five strikes, but of course the most important statistic is the goal they have scored.
Should Roma hold on and win this match, then they will move to within nine points of Juventus. They also have a game in hand after their match with Parma two weeks ago was abandoned.
The players are back out on the pitch and the action will be getting back underway shortly.
Roma kick off and get the second half started.
Sampdoria start the half brightly as Regini shows good skill to get past Maicon and into the area. He tries to pull the ball back across the box, but sees his attempt blocked.
YELLOW CARD! Gastaldello hacks down Gervinho around 25 yards out from goal and picks up a deserved booking. It has presented Roma with a good chance to test Da Costa from the free kick.
Strootman takes the set piece but it is a poor effort, as his strike sails high over the bar.
Wszolek dribbles into the box for Sampdoria and cuts inside of Benatia, who slips and appears to touch the ball with his hand, but the referee waves away the protests.
YELLOW CARD! Wszolek is booked by the referee for appealing against the decision.
GOAL! Roma 2-0 Sampdoria (Pjanic)
The home side have doubled their lead, and it's a fantastic goal by Pjanic! The Bosnian drills in a low free kick from 25-yards out that finds it's way past the outstretched arm of Da Costa and into the bottom corner. Sampdoria will have it all to do now.
SUBSTITUTION: Roma make a change with Maicon heading off to be replaced by Romagnoli.
SUBSTITUTION: Sampdoria also make a change, with Okaka replacing Wszolek.
GOAL! Roma 3-0 Sampdoria (Destro)
Roma are running away with it now! Gervinho gets in behind the defence and finds Destro in the box. The striker turns his man, and sets himself before burying a fierce strike into the roof of the net.
CHANCE! The visitors have a rare chance as Okaka gets down the right wing before finding Palombo on the edge of the box. The midfielder lashes in a first time effort, but it is well held by De Sanctis.
CHANCE! Roma are easily getting in behind the Sampdoria defence, and Gervinho shows his pace by latching onto a ball over the top, before cutting inside and firing in an effort that the keeper does well to hold onto at his near post.
SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make their second change, as Obiang comes on for Palombo.
Sampdoria have a glimmer of a chance when Eder is slid in down the left hand side of the box, but De Sanctis is out quickly to close down the angle and block his attempt.
CHANCE! Roma hit Sampdoria on the counter-attack and Gervinho bursts down the left wing. He manages to get into the box, before pulling it back for Pjanic, but the midfielder sees his strike take a deflection and head just over the bar.
SUBSTITUTION: Roma make their second change of the evening, as De Rossi comes on for Benatia.
Sampdoria enjoy a good spell of possession and Soriano is found inside the box in acres of space. He looks to find a teammate in the middle, but the pass is out of the reach of everyone and Roma clear.
CHANCE! The home side come close again, as Gervinho picks out Florenzi on the edge of the box. The striker aims for the top corner, but he gets underneath the ball and fires over the bar.
RED CARD! Sampdoria are down to 10 men after Gastaldello picks up his second yellow card of the evening for a foul on Nainggolan.
SUBSTITUTION: There will be no hat-trick for Destro tonight, as Bastos comes on for the closing stages.
Bastos has looked lively since coming on and tries his luck with a shot from range, but he doesn't get enough power on the effort to trouble the keeper.
SUBSTITUTION: Sampdoria make their final change of the evening, with Fornasier replacing Soriano.
Roma are in complete control of this match and are passing the ball around with ease deep inside their opponents half, as they look to see the game out.
FULL TIME: Roma 3-0 Sampdoria
The referee decides that no stoppage time is needed with Roma cruising to a 3-0 win over Sampdoria. Mattia Destro grabbed a double, with Miralem Pjanic also getting on the scoresheet.
Victory for Roma has seen them move to within nine points of league leaders Juventus, and they can close the gap further when they play their game in hand. As for Sampdoria, they end the evening where they started it, in 12th place.
That's all we've got time here for at Sports Mole. Please stay with us for all of this evening's results and news, but from me, it's goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
