Diego Perotti scores two penalties as Roma see off Udinese

Roma launched their Serie A campaign in style at the Olympic Stadium thanks to two second-half Diego Perotti penalties and strikes from Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah in a 4-0 win against Udinese.

Argentinian midfielder Perotti, a 56th-minute substitute for Stephan El Shaarawy, converted two spot-kicks in the space of 10 second-half minutes before striker Dzeko added a third in the 82nd minute, with Salah completing the scoring with his first league goal two minutes later.

It was the perfect warm-up for Luciano Spalletti's side before the second leg of their Champions League play-off against Porto on Tuesday, having drawn 1-1 in Portugal.

Roma did not have it all their own way in a goalless first half, with Udinese threatening through Iceland international midfielder Emil Hallfredsson and Gabriele Angella.

Two long-range shots before the break from Roma defender Bruno Peres went close to giving the home side the lead, while Dzeko and Radja Nainggolan, the subject of three failed summer transfer bids from Chelsea, were wasteful in front of goal.

But once Perotti had scored his first penalty in the 65th minute following Danilo's foul on Dzeko, Roma assumed control.

Perotti converted again from the spot 10 minutes later, this time into the opposite corner, after Emmanuel Badu's challenge on Salah and Nainggolan set up Dzeko for the third from close range following a corner with eight minutes left.

Salah saw his late header well saved by Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis, but immediately made amends with an emphatic finish into the top corner as Roma cruised to victory.