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There was impressive effectiveness in the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely option. However, the game was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret here was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became marred (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient drop to a point that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s key attribute up to now as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The technical areas saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring short stature against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to fire Roma ahead. The visitors without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for bluntness despite decent results in this campaign, were pleased with their early advantage.

Rangers could have equalised immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from the Toffees has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in complete freedom but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining until halftime. The discontent which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before leading a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ best period of the match, in which their substitute Thelo Aasgaard fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was given a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. There was cause to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a last year, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.