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Roma displayed admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team side that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. 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 soon have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; Röhl is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides lined up. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the injured Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. Even the boos which met the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, obviously sinister in message, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a takeover of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were involved. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. 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 point of making up the numbers.