🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic 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 Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.