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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting 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 Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period the ball thereafter. Roma 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 Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game closed 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, finalists in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of making up the numbers.