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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. 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 shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.