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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team in front. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.