Matías Soulé and Pellegrini find the net as AS Roma outclass Glasgow Rangers

There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood 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 half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal 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 substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.