🔗 Share this article

There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.