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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was decided as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma in front. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining until halftime. Even the boos which met the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians fine. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.