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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, 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 the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.