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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this trip to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this represented only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised immediately. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated opening period the ball from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

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, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, reached the stage of making up the numbers.