Diego's wonderful brace and a late Felipe Melo strike cancelled out Daniele De Rossi's screamer as Juventus conquer Roma's Olimpico.

The Olimpico was packed out for this big game and strong test of both sides' ambitions. The Giallorossi lost 3-2 at Genoa, but crushed Kosice 7-1 in the Europa League midweek. Artur was poor in that game and was replaced by third choice goalkeeper Julio Sergio Bertagnoli, but Philippe Mexes returned from a ban and Simone Perrotta was also back for a 4-3-1-2 system. That mirrored Juve's, who gave Felipe Melo his debut after suspension and left Alessandro Del Piero on the bench.

Last season Juventus won this fixture 4-1 and Amauri had the first real chance, just failing to get his head to a Vincenzo Iaquinta cross at the back post. Daniele De Rossi was marking Diego, but went into the book after 19 minutes for a challenge on Tiago Mendes.

Julio Sergio was called into action with a splendid save when Diego's free kick was flicked off Tiago's head in the six-yard box, the 30-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper flying to palm it away.

The goal was in the air and Diego got it with a Diego Maradona-style slalom! Marco Cassetti foolishly gave the ball away in the centre-circle and the little Brazilian ran all the way up the pitch under pressure to stroke in off the outside of his right boot from the tightest of angles. The ball took a bobble between Cassetti's feet and Diego wasted no time in snatching it away.

If Juve's goal was impressive, then Roma's reply was utterly spectacular! A free kick was taken quickly in midfield and De Rossi unleashed a dipping blockbuster from a good 30 metres that whipped past a shocked Gigi Buffon and under the bar! Tiago was at fault when he was distracted by arguing with the referee, not noticing that Roma had already taken the kick.

Julio Sergio was again at full stretch to fingertip an Amauri header off the line, then on 42 minutes the Brazilian striker curled an angled drive from just inside the area that came off the base of the far upright.

Yet Roma should've gone into the break 2-1 up when Jeremy Menez rolled across for the totally unmarked Totti, but Buffon stuck out a hand to parry in the one-on-one situation, denying a certain goal.

Max Tonetto replaced Taddei for the second half, but Juve went close again when Amauri chested down the ball from nine yards and forced a body save out of Julio Sergio at the near post.

Iaquinta pounced on a defensive error to ride De Rossi's tackle and charge into the box, but the finish was deflected inches over the bar by John Arne Riise's sliding intervention.

Mauro Camoranesi replaced the injured Claudio Marchisio on the right side of a three-man midfield. Julio Sergio parried another Amauri header, but Juventus managed to break through moments later with Diego's second of the game. He was sent through by a smart Iaquinta backheel, turned Mexes inside out on the edge of the area and thumped a precise angled drive into the far corner.

Mirko Vucinic replaced Riise and nodded just wide, while Menez flashed a cross-shot across the face of goal. Roma were piling on the pressure, so Nicola Legrottaglie came on, moving Giorgio Chiellini to his old left-back position.

Buffon was saved by the upright as Totti was given far too much space on the edge of the box to place a low left-foot drive that the goalkeeper thought was going wide, but it cracked the base of the post.

Diego tested Julio Sergio from distance before making way for Christian Poulsen. Roma substitute Alessio Cerci got to the byline and cut back for De Rossi, whose first touch let him down from a very promising position.

However, as the Giallorossi were pouring forward in stoppages, they left room at the back for Felipe Melo to make it 3-1 on the counter. The Brazilian marked his official Juve debut with a well-taken goal, running forward from the centre circle to thump a left-foot finish low past Julio Sergio from outside the area.