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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. 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 the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had 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 so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. 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, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.