🔗 Share this article

There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.