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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.