Soulé and Pellegrini find the net as Roma dominate Rangers

There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, 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 levelled matters instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.