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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian 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. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.