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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted 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 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 at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, the chairman had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.