Matías Soulé along with Pellegrini on target as Roma overpower Glasgow Rangers

There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man 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 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst 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 transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, showed the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.