🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. The visitors without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.