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There was impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.