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There was impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.