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Roma displayed admirable efficiency 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 European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably 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 fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.