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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas 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’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession from that point. They doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of just participating.