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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team ahead. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of just participating.