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There was impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more 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 the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures 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 referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma 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 bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.