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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, 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 so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.