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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl 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 lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.