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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League 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 consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge 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 bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.