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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.