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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team side that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when surrender felt the probable outcome. However, the game was decided as a competition at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of such stature. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. Röhl, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager 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 ominous. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

Roma dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead 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 bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in message, depicted the duo with bullseyes on their images. It raises questions what the club owner makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Fans have not targeted the owner so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. This is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, difficult to determine the visitors’ remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side meant this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.