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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.