text: Luciano Spalletti's side started the day four points behind Juve, and were without forward Mohamed Salah, at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
  They needed Wojciech Szczesny to make a good early save from Diego Laxalt.
  Genoa then lost keeper Mattia Perin to injury, and went behind as Izzo diverted in a Bruno Peres shot.
  It was the defender's second Serie A own goal of the season, having also scored a winner at the wrong end when Genoa lost to city rivals Sampdoria in October.
  Perin injured himself making a brilliant reaction stop to deny Roma's top scorer Edin Dzeko - bringing more frustration for the goalkeeper, who was making his return from suspension after being sent off against Palermo in his last match.
  Szczesny, on loan from Arsenal, was inspired in goal at the other end, somehow keeping the ball out at his near post in the first half after Nikola Ninkovic's free-kick had been deflected through a crowd, then making a flying stop from Lucas Ocampos right at the end.
  Juventus can re-establish a four-point advantage by beating Bologna in Sunday's late match (19:45 GMT).
  Lazio strengthened their hold on fourth place with an unconvincing 1-0 victory over next-to-bottom Crotone, with Ciro Immobile scoring the winner in the last minute.
  Lucas Biglia hit the bar with a first-half penalty for the Biancocelesti, but Crotone were desperately unlucky when Marcus Rohden had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside with 20 minutes to go.
  England goalkeeper Joe Hart began 2017 with a clean sheet as Torino drew 0-0 at Sassuolo in a forgettable game. The most significant moment was the return, as a substitute, of Sassuolo's highly rated Italy Under-21 forward Domenico Berardi after more than four months out with a knee injury.
  Alejandro Gomez scored twice in the first 23 minutes as Atalanta lifted their hopes of Europa League qualification with a convincing 4-1 win at Chievo, with Andrea Conti and Remo Freuler also on target.
  Two goals from Ivan Perisic gave Inter Milan a fourth successive Serie A win, as they won 2-1 at Udinese in Sunday's early kick-off.
  AC Milan had a late strike from Colombia striker Carlos Bacca to thank for a 1-0 win over Cagliari that allowed them to leapfrog Atalanta into  fifth and to within six points of the summit.
  Match ends, Genoa 0, Roma 1.
  Second Half ends, Genoa 0, Roma 1.
  Corner,  Genoa. Conceded by Wojciech Szczesny.
  Attempt saved. Lucas Ocampos (Genoa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Armando Izzo with a cross.
  Attempt missed. Daniele De Rossi (Roma) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Leandro Paredes.
  Substitution, Roma. Leandro Paredes replaces Radja Nainggolan because of an injury.
  Kevin Strootman (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  Foul by Luca Rigoni (Genoa).
  Substitution, Roma. Kostas Manolas replaces Bruno Peres.
  Federico Fazio (Roma) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  Foul by Federico Fazio (Roma).
  Diego Laxalt (Genoa) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  Offside, Genoa. Giovanni Simeone tries a through ball, but Luca Rigoni is caught offside.
  Attempt missed. Giovanni Simeone (Genoa) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Edenilson with a cross.
  Lucas Ocampos (Genoa) is shown the yellow card.
  Lucas Ocampos (Genoa) has gone down, but that's a dive.
  Attempt missed. Mauricio Pinilla (Genoa) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
  Foul by Federico Fazio (Roma).
  Mauricio Pinilla (Genoa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  Substitution, Roma. Stephan El Shaarawy replaces Diego Perotti.
  Substitution, Genoa. Mauricio Pinilla replaces Darko Lazovic.
  Attempt missed. Giovanni Simeone (Genoa) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nicolas Burdisso with a cross.
  Corner,  Roma. Conceded by Nicolas Burdisso.
  Foul by Bruno Peres (Roma).
  Diego Laxalt (Genoa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  Attempt missed. Edin Dzeko (Roma) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Kevin Strootman.
  Kevin Strootman (Roma) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  Foul by Kevin Strootman (Roma).
  Luca Rigoni (Genoa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  Offside, Genoa. Darko Lazovic tries a through ball, but Giovanni Simeone is caught offside.
  Attempt missed. Edin Dzeko (Roma) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Bruno Peres with a cross following a corner.
  Corner,  Roma. Conceded by Eugenio Lamanna.
  Attempt blocked. Edin Dzeko (Roma) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Diego Perotti.
  Substitution, Genoa. Edenilson replaces Nicola Ninkovic.
  Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  Delay in match Antonio Rüdiger (Roma) because of an injury.
  Antonio Rüdiger (Roma) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  Foul by Lucas Ocampos (Genoa).
  Attempt blocked. Radja Nainggolan (Roma) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
  Diego Perotti (Roma) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
target: Roma stayed in touch with Serie A leaders Juventus thanks to a win at Genoa secured by Armando Izzo's first-half own goal.