Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini find the net as AS Roma overpower Rangers

There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.