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There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, showed the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.