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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, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) 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 soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.