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There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock his team in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge even with decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, clearly sinister in message, showed the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.