Matías Soulé along with Pellegrini find the net as Roma dominate Glasgow Rangers

There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked 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 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase 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 unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. 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, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.