Francesco Totti returned from injury and struck a hat-trick in the first 28 minutes for Roma in an impressive 3-1 victory over Bari.

Out since October 4 because of a knee injury, the Roma captain made a dramatic comeback, notching his first from the penalty spot after six minutes. His second came eight minutes later from a set-piece and he smashed home a loose ball from inside the area just before the half-hour mark to make it 3-0.

Bari reduced the arrears with an own goal by Marco Andreolli on 77 minutes but could not find a way back into the game.

The outcome left Roma 11th in the standings - six points behind fourth-place Sampdoria, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

The hosts went into the game looking to keep up their good form after holding Serie A leaders Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw before the international break.

Roma sent an early warning with Mirko Vucinic's right-footed effort beating Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet but rebounding off the right post.

Bari should have broken the deadlock in the fourth minute but an unmarked Barreto's close-range strike was saved by Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio.

Shortly after, the referee pointed to the spot after Gillet brought down Vucinic inside the area.

Totti fired towards the far post, sending Gillet the other way to put the hosts in front.

In the 14th minute, Roma extended their lead.

Totti earned a free-kick and was assisted by David Pizarro before firing a right-footed strike towards the near post, out of Gillet's reach.

At the other end, Antonio Langella's acrobatic effort from inside the area forced Julio Sergio to palm over the bar for a corner.

Just when Bari were starting to look more dangerous, Totti struck again.

Bari defenders failed to clear the ball inside the area, leaving Totti to strike a left-footed effort past Gillet for his third of the afternoon.

Barreto should have made it 3-1 on 39 minutes but fired wide from close range with only Julio Sergio left to beat.

On the stroke of half-time, Sergio Almiron's 30-yard free-kick forced Julio Sergio to dive to his right to clear.

The visitors showed more determination after the restart and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit on 58 minutes.

Almiron's bullet-strike from long range beat Julio Sergio but struck the crossbar.

In the 66th minute, Bari were denied by Julio Sergio, who made an instinctive save to clear substitute Vladimir Koman's diagonal strike from the edge of the area.

Bari's efforts paid off with 17 minutes left.

Andreolli headed the ball into his own net from a Bari corner in an attempt to clear the danger, with Andrea Ranochia ready to fire.

There was nothing Julio Sergio could do to deflect the ball away from goal.

With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Julio Baptista set up Simone Perrotta, whose powerful effort from inside the area was cleared by Gillet.

Roma held on without any major scares.