Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini find the net as AS Roma outclass Glasgow Rangers

There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of just participating.