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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half the ball from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.