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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major 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 ghastly spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.