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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 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 the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors 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 quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.