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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US 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 leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.