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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees 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.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.