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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their images. One wonders 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 fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up 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 summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.