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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way Roma handled this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager continued for just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the teams took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound 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 seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were timid; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.