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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.