Matías Soulé along with Pellegrini on target as AS Roma dominate Rangers
Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.
To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.
Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major consequences.
The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.
Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge 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 defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.
The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession 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 Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.
After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, showed the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.
As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the underside of the bar.
That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.
