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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club 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 that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of just participating.