Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini on target as Roma overpower Glasgow Rangers

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.