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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs 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, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in 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. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of substitutions from each side meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.