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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.