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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’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 strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.