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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to gauge 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 bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.