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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. 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 ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

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, obviously sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.