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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.