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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. Roma 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 Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, nonetheless, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.