Soulé and Pellegrini find the net as AS Roma dominate Rangers

Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans 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 leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.