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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number 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 ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.