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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this journey 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 obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.