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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad 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 more likely outcome. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 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 top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour 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 fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.