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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome 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 the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.