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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, 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 at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward 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. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.