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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition 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 team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.