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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.