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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. 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, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.