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There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. The visitors without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, the chairman had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.