Soulé along with Pellegrini on target as AS Roma outclass Rangers

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.