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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at 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 in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.