Matías Soulé along with Lorenzo Pellegrini find the net as AS Roma outclass Rangers

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.