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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.