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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma in front. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated 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 came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.