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There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. 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 difference in class between Roma and a Rangers side that has now suffered defeat in a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was settled as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline appropriately depicting men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in the continent. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal tenure as the manager continued for just over four months in the initial phase of the campaign. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. This point was proven within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante comfortably flicked on a corner at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in the tournament, were pleased with their quick lead.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma controlled opening period the ball from that point. Roma extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were subdued; the home team were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, showed the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman had an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh so far but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to gauge Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were involved. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of making up the numbers.