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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition by then. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession thereafter. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, showed the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.