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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious 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 consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers should have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead 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 finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, clearly menacing in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of just participating.