Alessandro Cerci struck twice as Roma secured top spot in Europa League Group E by winning away to CSKA Sofia.

The outcome means the Italians will be seeded in Friday's draw in Nyon after finishing two points clear of second-placed Fulham, who won 3-2 at Basle in the other pool game.

Cerci, 22, put the Giallorossi ahead on the stroke of half-time before adding his second shortly after the re-start. Substitute Filippo Scardina made it 3-0 a minute from time.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri made wholesale changes to the side that drew 0-0 at Sampdoria at the weekend, with captain Francesco Totti among those given the evening off.

It was the hosts, looking for their first win in the competition, who enjoyed a brighter start and they should have taken the lead midway through the first half but Kostadin Stoyanov's header from Todor Timonov's corner kick went over the crossbar.

Shortly after, Roma goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont was forced to dive to his right to clear Stoyanov's stinging drive from distance.

Roma reacted and were unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 26th minute, with Simone Perrotta's volley beating goalkeeper Zdravko Chavdarov but hitting the near post.

The visitors continued to surge forward and their efforts were rewarded shortly before half-time.

Cerci ran onto Daniele De Rossi's assist and fired a left-footed strike from 12 yards out into the back of the net.

Roma picked up where they left off after the re-start and doubled their lead in the 53rd minute.

John Arne Riise found Cerci inside the area and his left-footed strike towards the far post beat Chavdarov.

At the other end, Iordan Minev's left-footed strike from the edge of the area flew over the bar.

The hosts struggled to get past Roma's well-placed defence and were limited to long-range shooting.

On the hour mark, Lobont made a fine save from Svetoslav Petrov's 30-yard strike but it was Roma that struck again late in the game.

A fast counter-attack by the visitors saw Perrotta set up an unmarked Scardina, who surged into the area and coolly struck the ball past Chavdarov.