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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.