🔗 Share this article

There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.