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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian 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 vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.