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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented 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. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.