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There was impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when capitulation felt the probable outcome. However, the match was decided as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have eyes again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not producing a result appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades 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 Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma in front. The visitors without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a rebellious feeling around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow lifted and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.