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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. 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 shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.