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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort 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. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous career 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 feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.