Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini on target as AS Roma overpower Rangers

Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma 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 fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

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

Roma controlled opening period possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.