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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side meant this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider 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.