Roma's Clinical Display Silences Ibrox
AS Roma produced a display of admirable efficiency and professionalism to comfortably defeat Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox Stadium, firmly putting their Europa League campaign back on track. The Italian side encountered favourable opposition in a Rangers team that looked out of its depth, with a glaring gulf in quality evident throughout the match. While Rangers showed some fight in the second half, the contest was effectively settled before the interval, leaving the Scottish club rooted to the bottom of their group without a single point—a situation that will embarrass a club of its stature.
Early Dominance and a Warning Sign
The tactical mismatch was apparent from the outset, particularly concerning Rangers' glaring lack of height compared to the physically imposing Roma side. This vulnerability was exposed after just 13 minutes. From a corner, Bryan Cristante won a comfortable flick-on at the near post, and defender Matías Soulé burst forward to knock the ball home, giving the visitors an early lead. This was a significant boost for a Roma team missing injured stars Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala.
Rangers were presented with a golden opportunity to level the score almost immediately, but Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The £8m signing from Everton has yet to justify his price tag, appearing unwilling to use his physical attributes effectively.
Pellegrini's Gorgeous Finish Seals the Win
Roma proceeded to dominate possession and doubled their lead 36 minutes in. Lorenzo Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation on the edge of the box, received a lay-off from Artem Dovbyk, and curled a beautiful shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland's net. The goal silenced the typically raucous Ibrox crowd, and the timid boos that met the half-time whistle reflected the home side's comprehensive outclassing.
The second half began with Rangers fans directing their anger towards the club's hierarchy. Banners with sinister tones depicted chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell with targets on their faces, highlighting the mutinous mood surrounding the club's unconvincing leadership.
Rangers' best chance to get back into the game came on the hour mark, but Chermiti again failed to convert, finding only the side netting when sent through on goal. Roma could have added a third when Zeki Celik somehow hit the underside of the crossbar from a yard out, but the Italian side was content to see out a comfortable and professionally earned victory.
