🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly 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 top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of just participating.