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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma in front. The visitors without the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent results in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; the home team were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider 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 making up the numbers.