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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts 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 teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team in front. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, showed the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.