🔗 Share this article

There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. 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 continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw 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 took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.