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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.