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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a club record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. 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 effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner 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 finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously menacing in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.