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There was admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period possession from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.