The Italians had needed just a point from the tie to secure their place in the next round behind the Spaniards, who had already qualified as group winners.

"It's an important win for us," admitted Roma coach Luciano Spalletti.

"We'd prepared well for this match and it paid off. We were also lucky because Valencia were already through. The team worked well and we're savouring our qualification."

The hosts put the absence of skipper Francesco Totti, through an ankle injury, behind them to make most of the running at a damp Olympic Stadium.

Roma closed down the game after just 13 minutes when a Rodrigo Taddei free-kick found Philippe Mexes and the defender's cross was duly nodded home by Panucci.

Valencia, already assured of their place in the next round, sent a second string side where only defender Albiol and midfielder Joaquin feature regularly.

After scoring Roma were content to sit back and soak up the pressure with Marco Cassetti missing a chance of a second after 60 minutes.

Roma's Brazilian goalkeeper Doni held firm after 76 minutes following a Hugo Viana effort on goal.

The on-form Serie A side preferred to reserve their energy for their weekend Serie A derby match against Lazio.

Valencia top the group with 13 points, three points ahead of Roma with Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk in third after a 1-1 draw at Olympiakos.

Spalletti, meanwhile, was already looking towards his next opponents.

"At this level it's no use calculating, but Chelsea and Lyon have surely something more than the others," he predicted.