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

There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal 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 substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of substitutions from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.