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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. Martin’s dismal 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 dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space 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 despite reasonable results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of just participating.