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There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team 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 capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades 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 co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.