🔗 Share this article

Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute 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 scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.