Diego's brace shut doors for Roma

Diego's brace shut doors for Roma

Brazilian striker Diego was on target twice as Juventus beat Roma 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Juve's top summer signing opened his Serie A account in the 25th minute before Roma's Daniele de Rossi equalised 10 minutes later.

Diego put Juve back in front in the 68th minute and Felipe Melo added a third in injury time as the Turin giants claimed their second win of the new campaign.

The triumph means that Ciro Ferrara has had a dream start in his first full campaign as Juve coach, the club he once played for.

Ferrara took the reins in a caretaker role after Claudio Ranieri was sacked at the end of last season and Juventus made the former Italy defender full-time coach earlier this summer.

Sunday's clash flowed from one end to the other.

Juve had an excellent opportunity to go ahead in the 22nd minute when Tiago met Diego's right-wing cross with a fine header that forced Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio to make a marvellous save.

There was little Julio Sergio could do to deny Juve taking the lead shortly after however.

Diego, signed from Werder Bremen this summer, fired a right-footed strike from inside the area towards the far post which the goalkeeper could not reach.

But Juve's joy was short-lived as Roma hit back with De Rossi's stinging drive from the distance stunning Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Juve reacted and Amauri twice had the chance to put his team in front.

Diego's cross from the left found his compatriot inside the area and his powerful header forced Julio Sergio to palm over the crossbar.

In the 43rd minute, Amauri was unlucky not to score his first goal of the season as he fired a right-footed strike from inside the area that struck the far post with Julio Sergio already beaten.

Roma were not without their chances.

Team captain Francesco Totti should have given his team the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Jeremy Menez's through-ball left an unmarked Totti with Buffon to beat but his effort towards the near post was saved by the Juve goalkeeper.

Ferrara's side continued to cause the Roma defence problems in the second half.

Julio Sergio was forced to dive to his left to clear Amauri's left-footed strike.

Shortly before the hour mark, Nicolas Burdisso made a crucial tackle with Vincenzo Iaquinta ready to fire inside the area.

Juve were rewarded for their attacking play midway through the second half.

Iaquinta fed Diego inside the area and his powerful strike down the middle went into the back of the net.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti reacted, bringing Mirko Vucinic on.

The Romans thought they had equalised with 12 minutes remaining when Totti's right-footed strike beat Buffon but the ball rebounded off the far post.

Roma surged forward desperately in search of the equaliser and their hopes proved to no avail as Juve put the game beyond reach with two minutes left to play.

A fast counter-attack from Juve saw the ball fall to Felipe Melo, who with a left-footed strike beat the Roma goalkeeper.

While Juventus have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Roma have now lost two in a row.