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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club 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.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.