🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.