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

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Instead, 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 Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.