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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl 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 proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.