🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.