Rangers 0-2 Roma: Player ratings + talking points as unwanted club record set after classy Italians enjoy Ibrox stroll

Rangers remain pointless at the foot of the Europa League table after Danny Rohl’s side were totally outclassed against an experienced Roma outfit on another chastening night at Ibrox.

Having lost their all three of their league phase matches to date, the Light Blues knew they needed a victory to kick-start their dismal campaign or face up to the prospect of early elimination against an opponent who had been flying high in Serie A this term.

But they were handed yet another harsh lesson as first-half goals from Matias Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini consigned the hosts to a fourth consecutive defeat in the competition, and a record-breaking seventh European loss in a row.

Roma - without a quartet of key stars through injury including Argentinian World Cup winner Paulo Dybala and ex-Celtic target Evan Ferguson - arrived in Glasgow with little wriggle room of their own having lost their last two matches in the competition.

This marked the first competitive meeting between the two clubs, with the Serie A giants back on Scottish soil for the first time since April 1984, losing 2-0 to Dundee United in the first leg of the European Cup semi-final on that occasion.

The Giallorossi, backed by around 1,400 noisy travelling supporters, had entered the Ibrox Colosseum but were unfazed by the impressive tifo display of a giant Roman gladiator with a Rangers crest on his shield unfurled in the Copland Stand ahead of kick-off.

The Italians started well and enjoyed most of the early possession, despite the home crowd doing their best to raise the decibel levels. But it was the visitors who struck first after 13 minutes with Rangers undone again from a set-piece scenario.

A Lorenzo Pellegrini corner from the right was flicked on superbly by the unchallenged Bryan Cristante into the path of Matias Soule who ghosted in at the back post to nod home from close range.

It was a dream start for Roma, but there was signs of encouragement for the Light Blues when the much-maligned Youssef Chermiti flashed a dangerous effort narrowly wide of the target.

Rohl spoke about the importance of trying to break the Roma press in his pre-match media conference on Wednesday, hence his decision to line up in a 3-4-3 formation with Max Aarons and Jayden Meghoma deployed as wing backs. However, his side were being penned in and struggling to pose much of an attacking threat.

The German was very animated on the touchline, asking for more aggression from his players as the first half wore on. But to little avail as the visitors doubled their lead on 37 minutes.

Again, it was far too easy. Imposing Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk squared the ball to his team-mate Pellegrini under pressure just when it appeared he had passed up the chance to get a shot away. The midfielder applied the finishing touch as he calmly side-footed low past the outstretched Jack Butland into the far corner.

Goal scorer Soule then had another attempt pushed behind for a corner by Butland. It left a Rangers team seemingly devoid of answers with a mountain to climb and not for the first time this season in Europe, loud boos greeted the referee’s half-time whistle.

Rohl reverted to a back four in the second half, making an attack-minded change which saw Thelo Aasgaard replace Brentford loanee Jayden Meghoma. Some fans would’ve been fearing a repeat of their Champions League humbling at the hands of Club Brugge earlier in the campaign.

It was easy to see why Roma are currently challenging at the top of the Serie A. They had looked a far superior outfit and the best team to have rocked up in Govan since the impressive Belgians did so in mid-August. There was plenty to ponder for Rohl as a sought a quickfire response from his side.

Composed on the ball, possessing technically gifted players all over the park and a manager in Gian Piero Gasperini who knows what it takes to win this competition, having done so previously in 2024 with Atalanta.

In contrast, there were chants of ‘(Kevin) Thelwell, Thelwell get to f***” as the Gers sporting director and fellow under-fire chief Patrick Stewart returned to their seats in the directors box.

The next goal was crucial. Roma adopted a less aggressive approach after the restart and Rangers sensed a route back into the contest. Nicolas Raskin had a shot from distance fly narrowly past the post, Mikey Moore then slid a shot wide before Chermiti hit the side-netting on the hour mark.

But thereafter, there was little sign of a Rangers revival. They were creating more openings but were lacking a cutting edge in the final third. Bojan Miovski and Danilo made an impact off the bench, with the latter thwarted by the keeper following a well-worked move in the closing stages.

However, it was the visitors who should’ve added a third goal when on loan Liverpool full-back Kostas Tsimikas’ scuffed shot across the face of goal found Zeki Celik who somehow failed to find the net from just a few yards out, hitting the crossbar via a combination of his head and knee.

But the damage was already done. Seven straight defeats in European competition for Rangers - a new unwanted club record. And with Celtic going down 3-1 to FC Midtjylland in Denmark, this result capped off another sobering night for Scottish clubs in Europe. A dire state of affairs.

Here, GlasgowWorld breaks down three main talking points from the 90 minutes and how the Rangers players fared:

Euro campaign in tatters

Defeats to Genk, Sturm Graz, Brann and Roma have left Rangers hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase hanging by a thread. It will take a spectacular turnaround in form to and for other results to fall in their favour for the Govan giants to have any chance of challenging at the top half of the league phase table.

They stay rock-bottom of the 36-team pile and while not mathematically impossible to still progress in the competition, it seems highly unlikely that Rangers will be able to muster up wins over Braga, Ludogorets, Fenercvaros and Porto given their current form.

Rohl left seeking answers from fragile rearguard

Yet again, Rangers shipped two cheap goals to leave Rohl with plenty to sort out. But he must prioritise his leaky defence, first and foremost when the January window opens. His decision to go with two wing backs was supposed to make them harder to beat.

However, it didn’t work against Celtic at the weekend and it was a similar story against the Italians with the centre-half pairing of Wolves loanee Nasser Djiga and John Souttar both looking extremely vulnerable.

The concession of the first goal came after giving away a cheap corner and a failure to pick up their marker. The usually reliable Souttar was then caught sleeping at the second goal.

Tottenham loanee provides bright spark on grim night

While there was very few positives to take from this match, youngster Mikey Moore appears to be gradually finding his feet under Rohl. The on loan Tottenham Hotspur forward has struggled to settle in Glasgow since his arrival over the summer.

But after making a positive impact off the bench at Hampden Park and as a starter on this occasion, Moore has looked Rangers chief attacking threat. He seems to be enjoying playing more infield rather than hugging the touchline, despite being signed by previous boss Russell Martin as a wide player.

Rangers player ratings vs AS Roma

GK - Jack Butland (6/10)

RWB - Max Aarons (4/10)

RCB - James Tavernier (5/10)

CB - John Souttar (4/10)

LCB - Nasser Djiga (3/10)

LWB - Jayden Meghoma (3/10)

CM - Connor Barron (5/10)

CM - Nicolas Raskin (5/10)

RCF - Djeidi Gassama (5/10)

LCF - Mikey Moore (7/10)

CF - Youssef Chermiti (5/10)

Subs used: Thelo Aasgaard (4/10), Mohamed Diomande (2/10), Danilo (4/10), Bojan Miovski (3/10), Findlay Curtis (N/A).