Soulé along with Lorenzo Pellegrini find the net as Roma dominate Rangers

There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, 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 vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.