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

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.