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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this trip 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. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half 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. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.