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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided 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 team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.