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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.