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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here 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 the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.