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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, 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 main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.