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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.