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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.