Roma 4-1 Fiorentina: Mohamed Salah scores brace as Luciano Spalletti's men record seventh straight win

Roma won their seventh straight Serie A game as Mohamed Salah scored twice in a 4-1 win at home to Fiorentina on Friday to move clear of their opponents in the race for a Champions League spot and maintain their faint title hopes.

Third-placed Roma, now three points ahead of La Viola, have been transformed since Luciano Spalletti replaced Rudi Garcia as coach in January, losing once in the league before a winning streak that has put them within five points of leaders Juventus.

They took the lead after 22 minutes when Salah squared for Stephan El Shaarawy to score from close range and doubled their advantage three minutes later when Salah's shot took a wicked deflection and looped into the net.

Roma attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his first goal against Fiorentina 

Salah nets his second goal during the 4-1 demolition of La Viola in the Serie A clash on Friday night 

Fiorentina's Facundo Sebastian Roncaglia (left) clears the ball ahead of Roma's Miralem Pjanic 

Fiorentina's Josip Ilicic scores a penalty during his side's 4-1 defeat by Roma on Friday night 

Roma are currently third in the Serie A table 

Diego Perotti side-footed home El Shaarawy's cross after 38 minutes to make it 3-0 before Fiorentina pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time with Josip Ilicic converting a penalty after Cristian Tello was felled in the area.

The visitors' hopes of a comeback were snuffed out, however, when Salah ran through on goal and slid the ball beneath Fiorentina keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu just before the hour.

Juve travel to Atalanta on Sunday (1400 GMT) after second-placed Napoli, who are three points off top spot, host another mid-table team in Chievo Verona on Saturday 

Roma forward Francesco Totti (right) has a shot at goal during his side's 4-1 victory over Fiorentina  

Argentina international Diego Perotti has a shot at goal during Roma's comfortable 4-1 win over La Viola