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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.