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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a level that will shortly have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the head coach lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being overwhelmed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. Ultimately, the chairman had an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.