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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’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 seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, 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 mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.