🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. 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 increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.