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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the game was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.