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There was admirable efficiency in the way the Italian side handled this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Rome did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals 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 club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the more likely outcome. However, the game was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain anchored at the bottom of the tournament, which should constitute an embarrassment to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have eyes once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s dismal spell as the head coach lasted 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 tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as Bryan Cristante easily redirected a corner at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

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 purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physique to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma controlled first-half possession from that point. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a boisterous place on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. Even the boos which met the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period began against a unusual backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. After all, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was sent through on goal on the hour mark and found only the outside of the goal. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the game, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams meant this game ended more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to ponder how exactly Rangers, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the point of just participating.