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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals 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 team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.