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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years 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 Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team in front. The visitors without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow 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 fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.