🔗 Share this article

There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was 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 huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs 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 Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through 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 match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.