🔗 Share this article

There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.