Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini on target as Roma overpower Glasgow Rangers

There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting 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 Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.