Roma 3-1 Udinese: Giallorossi return to the top of Serie A

Roma cruised to a 3-1 win against Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico to return to the top of Serie A.

The Giallorossi struck twice early on through Miralem Pjanic and Maicon before Gervinho made it 3-0 after the hour.

Udinese's Cyril Theareau reduced the arrears in the 77th minute but the visitors got no closer as Roma celebrated their fifth straight win in Italy.

Wednesday's victory, which keeps Roma unbeaten at home, has lifted the Giallorossi two points clear of nearest rivals Napoli, Inter Milan and Fiorentina, who are all level on 21 points after winning their respective encounters.

Udinese, meanwhile, have lost their fifth game of the campaign and have dropped to 15th place in the standings.

Roma, who had beaten Fiorentina 2-1 in Florence on Sunday to take command of the domestic table, were still without injured captain Francesco Totti.

The hosts went ahead in the fourth minute when Maicon set up Pjanic in the box and his right-footed shot beat Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.

Roma doubled their lead five minutes later when Edin Dzeko fed Maicon in the area and he struck a diagonal strike past Karnezis.

The Giallorossi extended their advantage in the 63rd minute when Kostas Manolas fed Gervinho in the box and he struck a right-footed shot out of Karnezis's reach.

Udinese made it 3-1 when Thereau struck a 12-yard effort past Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in what was their first shot on target.

Roma travel to the San Siro to face Inter Milan on Saturday while Udinese host Sassuolo on Sunday.