🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.