Soulé along with Lorenzo Pellegrini on target as AS Roma dominate Rangers
Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.
To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.
Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter 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 politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have major consequences.
Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted 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 clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.
Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.
The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.
The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.
After the break began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.
As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.
That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.
