🔗 Share this article

There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of changes from each side meant this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.