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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures 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 referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.