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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range 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 changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.