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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

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 best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.