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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. 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 European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in 1961. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will shortly have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. At the back, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous mood in the air. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, hard to gauge Roma’s remaining offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The raft of substitutions from both teams resulted in this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.