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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise 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 took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.