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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this trip to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

Positively, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable option. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the sides took the field. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for bluntness even with decent performances in the tournament, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a opportunity from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.