Matías Soulé along with Lorenzo Pellegrini on target as Roma outclass Glasgow Rangers

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the game was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, 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 top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.