Ryan in goal for Roma rout of Sampdoria in Italian Cup

Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan has played his first competitive minutes of the season for Roma, helping his side to a 4-1 Italian Cup win over Sampdoria.

The 32-year-old joined on a free transfer during the off-season from AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, but due to lack of game time has lost his starting spot between the sticks under Graham Arnold at international level to Aston Villa's No.2 Joe Gauci.

Roma, and ex-Leicester City, boss Claudio Ranieri steered his side to a morale-boosting victory over one of his many former clubs and avoided a potential upset against the Serie B club, who had already knocked out two Serie A teams.

Roma lost 2-0 last time out in the league at Como ? one of the top-flight teams Samp had beaten on their cup run ? the other being city rivals Genoa.

However, an early double from Artem Dovbyk and a delightful solo effort from Tommaso Baldanzi had Roma 3-0 up inside 25 minutes.

Gerard Yepes pulled one back for the visitors in the 61st but Roma restored their three-goal advantage through substitute Eldor Shomurodov to secure a last-eight match against AC Milan.

"I'm happy to have shown myself and to have helped the team go through to the next round, we want to do well in this cup," said Baldanzi.

"Como? We did badly and we wanted to respond. We wanted to do well in front of our fans, they deserve it and we deserved it too."

Serie A leaders Atalanta also eased through, albeit against second-division Cesena, in Bergamo.

Charles De Ketelaere and Lazar Samardzic both scored twice in a 6-1 win to book a place in the quarters against Bologna, in February.

Fresh from a club record 10th straight league victory, Atalanta ? who lost the cup final to Juventus last year ? showed no signs of easing up, even against lower league opposition.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side were 2-0 up in less than 10 minutes and 4-0 up by halftime following goals by Davide Zappacosta, De Ketelaere's double and Samardzic's first.

Marco Brescianini added a fifth early in the second half and Samardzic doubled his tally in the 71st.

Substitute Joseph Ceesay netted a consolation goal in the final minute for Cesena.

With AAP.