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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece 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 criticised for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. 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 determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.