🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element 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 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman 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. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.