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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness even with reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, showed the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.