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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass 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 raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of just participating.