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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was settled as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly 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, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.