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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 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 limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.