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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment 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 Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.