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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable 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 redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error 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 striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.