🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level 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 Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession 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. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant 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 ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.