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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the game was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have eyes again on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were involved. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the point of making up the numbers.