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

There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti 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 Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.