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There was impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the head coach lasted 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is 36, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides lined up. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.