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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.