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There was impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma in front. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.