Matías Soulé and Pellegrini on target as Roma dominate Glasgow Rangers

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring 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 more likely option. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.