Roma cooled off red-hot Genoa with three classy goals getting them back to winning ways.
Brazilian right-back Cicinho opened the scoring in the 26th minute before Mirko Vucinic's stunning volley made it 2-0 shortly after the re-start.
Roma winger Rodrigo Taddei was sent off early in the second half but instead of capitalizing on their man advantage, Genoa failed to score and also lost a player themselves when Giuseppe Sculli was given his marching orders with 20 minutes remaining.
Substitute Julio Baptista then capped up a wonderful afternoon for the home side by scoring Roma's third deep in stoppage time.
The defeat was Genoa's first since November 13 and it also allowed the Romans to join them on 40 points, although the Rossoblu remain fourth in the table.
Roma, looking to bounce back from last weekend´s 2-2 draw at Reggina, welcomed back captain Francesco Totti from injury.
But it was Giampiero Gasperini´s men that controlled the early stages of the game and twice had the opportunity to break the deadlock.
Thiago Motta´s left-footed strike from the edge of the area was just wide of the far post while shortly after, Giuseppe Biava close-range header went wide.
The fans at the Stadio Olimpico had to wait 26 minutes but the opening goal was worth the wait.
Totti´s pass sliced Genoa´s defence wide open and found Simone Perrotta inside the area. His cross from the right found Cicinho, whose touch inside the six-yard box beat goalkeeper Rubinho.
Cicinho´s joy was shortlived as two minutes later he picked up a knee injury and was replaced by Marco Motta.
On the half-hour mark, Rubinho was forced to fully stretch to clear Vucinic´s powerful strike towards the near post.
Rubinho was again tested by Perrotta, whose stinging central drive from outside the area was saved by the keeper.
On the stroke of half-time, Gasperini was handed his marching orders for dissent.
Roma picked up where they left off after the re-start and their efforts were rewarded.
Daniele De Rossi made a fantastic run from his own half before delivering the ball to the edge of the area where an unmarked Vucinic was waiting. His left-footed volley went into the back of the net.
Totti could have made it 3-0 soon after, but his lobbed ball went high over the bar.
At the other end, Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni did well to come off his line with Diego Milito ready to fire from the six-yard box.
In the 55th minute, Taddei received his second yellow card after hitting Domenico Criscito in the face.
Genoa surged forward more aggressively and twice had the chance to reduce the deficit.
With Doni out of position, Juan made a vital clearance inside the box to deny Motta from close range, while shortly after, Sculli´s header was saved by the Roma keeper.
Genoa suffered a setback when Rubinho was forced to leave the pitch after a collision with Philippe Mexes. Alessandro Scarpi took his place on goal.
The visitors could not believe their luck as Sculli was shown his second yellow card after a foul on Totti.
Despite being down to 10 men, Genoa persisted and almost found the net with five minutes remaining.
Bosko Jankovic´s angled effort warmed the hands of Doni who denied Milito´s right-footed strike seconds later.
Roma had the last say with Mexes' long ball finding Baptista, who beat the offside trap and two defenders before firing a right-footed strike from the edge of the area towards the top right-hand corner.
