Basle 2-0 Roma

Basle got their Europa League Group E adventure off to the best possible start with a convincing victory over Roma.

Carlitos opened the scoring in the 11th minute before substitute Federico Almerares put the game beyond Roma's reach three minutes from time.

Thorsten Fink's Swiss champions dominated the encounter and deserved all three points at St Jakob-Park.

The Italians went into the game inspired by Sunday's 2-1 last-gasp win at Siena that marked their first triumph of the campaign after back-to-back defeats in Serie A.

But it was the hosts that started the game brightly and took the lead in the 11th minute.

Carlitos capitalised on a defensive distraction by Roma and fired a powerful right-footed shot from 25 yards to beat Giallorosso goalkeeper Julio Sergio.

Roma were unlucky not to level the score shortly after, with Francesco Totti's free-kick hitting the crossbar with Basle goalkeeper Franco Costanzo beaten.

Midway through the first half, Nicolas Burdisso latched onto a corner kick and his powerful header went just wide of the far post as the Italians pressed.

The hosts came close to extend their lead before half-time, but Julio Sergio did well to fully stretch to parry away Marco Streller's close-range header from Alexander Frei's cross.

Roma showed more determination after the restart and should have equalised shortly before the hour mark but Totti's stinging free-kick was met by a fine save from Costanzo.

Shortly after, Roma boss Claudio Ranieri made a double substitution with Mirko Vucinic and Max Tonetto replacing Julio Baptista and John Arne Riise.

But it was the hosts that looked more dangerous.

Roma were fortunate not to concede their second of the evening in the 71st minute. Streller's left-footed volley on the edge of the area beat Julio Sergio but his effort struck the crossbar.

Their efforts were finally rewarded. A Basle counter-attack saw Almerares, who had entered the pitch two minutes earlier, surge inside Roma's area, get past the keeper and coolly strike into the back of the net.