Sampdoria came from behind to beat Roma 2-1 late Sunday with a brace from Giampaolo Pazzini, allowing Inter Milan to retain the lead in the Serie A with three games to go, DPA reported.
Reigning champions Inter beat lowly Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday and moved two points clear of Roma, who ended a run of 24 unbeaten games before their home crowd.
Samp struggled in the first half under the hosts' swift attacks on the flanks and massive dominance in midfield, but were beaten only by a Francesco Totti goal and rallied after the break as Roma slowed their pace.
Totti's goal was a sample of speed and precision both on his part and from Montenegrin Mirko Vucinic, who on 14 minutes burst on the left flank and sent a low precise feed in the area for the captain's neat deflection by the far post.
Totti came again close on 20 minutes, hitting the post on Marco Storari's right off another perfect feed from Vucinic.
Roma paid dearly for a slow start into the second half, and Samp promptly profited on 52 minutes with a header from Pazzini off a cross from ex-Roma playmaker Antonio Cassano.
Substitutes Fernando Tissone and Daniele Mannini added grit to Samp's game, while Claudio Ranieri on 67 minutes added power to his attack with Luca Toni, who immediately threatened Storari with a downward header.
Storari blocked a break from Vucinic and a smashing drive from Norwegian John Riise before Pazzini with five minutes left had the better of Riise and flicked home a low cross by Mannini.
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