There was impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.
To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.
Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.
The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.
Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.
Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.
The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.
The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.
Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.
That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.
