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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.