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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.