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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.