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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop 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 isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on 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 bluntness even with decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, the chairman had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of just participating.