Parma caused problems for Roma for long stretches of the match in the Ennio Tardini, but although DavideLanzafame netted late on for the hosts, goals fromFrancesco Totti and Rodrigo Taddei ensured that the Giallorossi returned to the top of the table – for the time being.

The first opportunity of the game came after four minutes when a clever through ball caught Juan out of position, but Valeri Bojinov’s shot flew inches wide of the far post.

Barely a minute later, Roma took the lead when an inch-perfect ball over the top from Daniele De Rossi found Totti in space, and ‘Er Pupone’ took one touch before delicately chipping the ball over the stranded Antonio Mirante and into the net.

After 10 minutes an innocuous pass was badly dealt with by Nicolas Burdisso as he deflected the ball into the path of Jonathan Biabiany, but Juan did excellently to get across and bail his defensive partner out of trouble.

The young striker was causing problems for the Giallorossi as firstly Simone Perrotta went into the book for bringing him down as the Gialloblu attempted a counter-attack, and minutes later Juan sliced a clearance under pressure from the Frenchman. Fortunately for the Brazilian, Biabiany’s follow-up shot was easily gathered by Julio Sergio.

It was not the only moment of nervousness in the visitors’ backline, and Parma began to get more of a foothold in the game as the half wore on. Julio Sergio was forced into action when Francesco Valiani cut inside an fired a left-footed shot goalwards, only to see the Brazilian shot-stopper palm it round the post.

After 32 minutes, Mirko Vucinic, who was struggling to influence the game greatly, played a superb through ball for John Arne Riise to chase down but Hernan Dellafiore safely shepherded it back to Mirante. Moments later, Valiani whipped a dangerous cross in at the other end but the angle was too tight for Luca Antonelli to get a header on target and it went into the side netting.

Parma were in the ascendancy as half-time approached, and Luis Jimenez nearly got the better of the Roma defense when he deftly controlled the ball and jinked past Marco Cassetti in the penalty area but Juan did well to clear the cross behind. Biabiany headed over from a corner on the 45 minute mark, but the Ducali couldn’t find an equalizer before the break.

The second half began in much the same way as the first had ended as Parma pressed forwards, although eight minutes in Dellafiore gifted possession to Totti 25 yards out; Totti took his time to weigh up a shot before striking the ball from the edge of the box which came back off the post with Mirante static.

Moments later, Cassetti played a good ball into the six yard box following Totti’s lay-off, but the closely-marked Toni tried to shoot himself and only bundled the ball wide while Taddei was unmarked and perfectly placed to score just behind him.

Half-time substitute Hernan Crespo had a chance to emulate Totti after ‘Er Pupone’ gave the ball away inside the Parma half. Crespo was quickly played in on goal but his lob went over the crossbar. The pressure was growing on Roma in every sense as their nerves started to show again, and Julio Sergio had to tip a close-range effort from Lanzafame over the bar following an error by De Rossi.

With 20 minutes to go there was a useful break in play for Roma as Biabiany stayed down injured following a challenge by Juan, but in the 75th minute they doubled their lead. As Parma had numbers forward the Giallorossi hit them on the counter-attack, and Totti clipped the ball into the far post for Taddei to head home from close range.

It was a huge goal for the visitors and the relief was as strong an emotion as the joy on the faces of the Roma players as they celebrated the goal, but the game was far from over as Lanzafame pulled one back for Parma as he connected with Biabiany’s cross to head into the far corner. It was poor defending from Burdisso and Cassetti as the substitute didn’t even have to jump to get on the end of the cross.

Roma needed to slow the game down and keep possession in the final minutes, and they won a succession of free kicks deep inside the hosts’ half to keep the pressure off themselves. Jimenez was sent off for a second yellow card as Totti expertly kept the ball away from him in the final minutes, and for a moment it appeared as though tempers would boil over but the scene was quickly calmed.

Mirante had to be at his best to deny Julio Baptista in injury time following fine work by Toni, but the visitors held onto their lead to claim a priceless three points.

Inter Milan returned to the top of Serie A, but there was not such good news for arch rivals Milan who lost at Palmero to end any hopes of winning the Scudetto.

Inter returned to the summit, at least temporarily, thanks to a comfortable 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Atalanta.

Atalanta stunned their illustrious hosts when they took the lead with less than five minutes on the clock but, just as they had done midweek against Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Inter hit back with three goals.

After a dire opening five minutes, Inter began to get back into the game and top scorer Diego Milito levelled before Sulley Muntari gave them the lead 10 minutes from the break.

Cristian Chivu also scored his first goal for the club to wrap up the points for Inter in the 78th minute and send them back to the head of the standings – two points clear of Roma, who host Sampdoria on Sunday.