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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing 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 lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; 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. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, showed the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.