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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid on the right path. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an disgrace to a team of such stature. The Giallorossi have eyes again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was far more striking as the teams lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma in front. The visitors without the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an productive centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled opening period possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, obviously menacing in tone, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, the striker was sent through on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. It was, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.