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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, 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 rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete 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 main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.