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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. 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 increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing 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 anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. 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 worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.