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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Instead, 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 piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.