Matías Soulé along with Lorenzo Pellegrini on target as AS Roma dominate Glasgow Rangers

There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.