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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.