Roma, who started the day level on points with Inter, were always going to struggle to maintain their unbeaten record in Serie A after Ludovic Giuly was shown a straight red card for deliberate handball just 28 minutes in.

The summer signing from Barcelona palmed away Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goalbound strike and, to compound his misery, the Sweden striker slotted home the resulting spot-kick to became the leading scorer in Serie A outright with seven goals.

Reigning champions Inter controlled the tempo of the game after going ahead, but an individual error from Maxwell early in the second half gifted Simone Perrotta an equaliser to give Roma hope.

But Roberto Mancini's side restored their advantage only four minutes later courtesy of a Hernan Crespo strike and moments later the game was effectively over as a contest when Julio Cruz scored a third.

And as Roma pushed men forward, long-serving central defender Ivan Cordoba added a fourth to rub salt into the wounds of the home side.

Boosted by the return of talismanic skipper Francesco Totti, the Giallorossi made a positive start and an early free-kick from the former Italy international forced Julio Cesar into a sharp save and the Inter goalkeeper reacted superbly to deny Alessandro Mancini from the rebound.

Luciano Spalletti's side produced some slick passing and dominating the early exchanges, but Ibrahimovic and Esteban Cambiasso should have done better with goalscoring opportunities for Inter.

Brazil playmaker Mancini was once denied by Julio Cesar, who turned his goalbound effort away for a corner.

But the key moment of the game came after 28 minutes when in-form striker Ibrahimovic's shot was handled by France midfielder Giuly, leaving the referee with no option but to show a straight red card.

Ibrahimovic converted the resulting spot-kick to make it five goals in his last three games and leave Roma with it all to do.

Mancini's side were dealt a blow when Ibrahimovic stayed down after a clash with Juan and the former Ajax frontman had to be replaced by Julio Cruz.

Roma were level eight minutes into the second half when a mistake from Maxwell let in Perrotta, who finished clinically.

But the Rome giants' joy was shortlived as a strike from Cambiasso was palmed away by Alexander Doni and Argentina striker Crespo pounced on the rebound to slot home from close range.

Substitute Julio Cruz then gave the visitors breathing space four minutes later with a strike from outside the area that appeared to surprise Doni.

Roma pressed forward in a bit to salvage something from the game, but Cordoba made sure of the points by heading home a pinpoint cross from Luis Figo.

And the home side finished the game with nine men, with Perrotta sustaining an injury after Spalletti had made all three substitutions.