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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. However, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, 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 the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker 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.

Rangers should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, depicted the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.