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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match 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 Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were involved. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.