🔗 Share this article

There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the match was settled as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this game 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 exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.