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There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.