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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, 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 club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.