🔗 Share this article

There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.