Soulé along with Pellegrini find the net as AS Roma overpower Glasgow Rangers

There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team in front. The visitors without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase 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 dominated first-half possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.