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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club 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 option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’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 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.