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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s 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 was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.