Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini on target as Roma outclass Glasgow Rangers

Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.