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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the game was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from each side meant this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.