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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the game was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.