Diego nets twice in Juve win over Roma

New Juventus signing Diego stole the show in only his second Serie A start with two stunning goals in a 3-1 win at AS Roma on Sunday.

The Brazilian playmaker, signed from Werder Bremen in the close season, demonstrated why Juve fans hope he is the missing link to bridge the gap with champions Inter Milan this term.

"It's thanks to the environment at Juve, coach Ciro Ferrara, my team mates and the fans that I've settled in so well," Diego told Sky television.

Having produced flashes of brilliance in last weekend's 1-0 win over Chievo in Juve's league opener, Diego netted his first competitive goal for the club midway through the first half.

A mistake by defender Marco Cassetti allowed Diego to charge towards goal from the halfway line before outmuscling John Arne Riise in the box and scoring with the outside of his boot.

Roma's Daniele De Rossi equalised for the hosts 10 minutes later and although different, his goal was equally breathtaking.

With Juve debutant Felipe Melo busy arguing with the referee, Roma took a quick free kick and Italy midfielder De Rossi unleashed a dipping 30-metre strike which caught goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon slightly unawares.

RIFLING HOME

Diego was not to be outdone, however, and he ran on to Vincenzo Iaquinta's clever flick in the second half and bamboozled the Roma defence before rifling home.

Fellow Brazilian Felipe Melo, another big money buy from Fiorentina, sealed Roma's second league defeat with a fierce strike in injury time having struggled for much of the match.

Juve, who again left Alessandro Del Piero on the bench and hope to sign Lyon's Fabio Grosso on Monday, had a number of other good chances with Amauri striking a post.

In other games on Sunday, Roberto Donadoni's Napoli beat his former side Livorno 3-1 with new signing Fabio Quagliarella scoring his first two goals for his hometown club.

Fiorentina defeated Palermo 1-0 on a terrible pitch in Florence thanks to Stevan Jovetic's clever flick, while Sampdoria overcame Udinese 3-1, promoted Parma edged past Catania 2-1 and Genoa won 1-0 at Atalanta.

Former Inter striker Julio Cruz scored a penalty and tapped in to give Lazio a 2-1 victory at Chievo and Siena were 3-1 winners at Cagliari.