🔗 Share this article

There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie 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 see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.