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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. 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 European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was settled as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern 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 knock Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide 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 physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through 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 the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.