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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked 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 Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of just participating.