🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily 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 their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.