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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, 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 physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of changes from each side resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.