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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with 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 opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.