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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.