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There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a obvious difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. Roma have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half possession from that point. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which greeted the interval were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, showed the pair with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about all this. After all, the chairman had an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s leadership is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from both teams resulted in this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of just participating.