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There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. However, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete 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 concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up 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 physique to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, showed the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were involved. The raft of changes from each side meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.