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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell 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 though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’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. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. 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 fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.