Soulé along with Pellegrini on target as AS Roma outclass Rangers

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers 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 top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.