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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. There was a obvious gulf in quality between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least fought hard during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. Yet, the match was settled as a contest at that stage. Rangers remain rooted to the bottom of the Europa League, which should constitute an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have eyes once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline appropriately depicting the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became marred (to put it politely) by the bribing of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could compete with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a point that will soon have huge ramifications.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. The latter’s ghastly tenure as the manager lasted just over four months in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s obvious lack of height against the visitors looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire his team in front. The visitors minus the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge despite decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s eight-million-pound signing from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half the ball from that point. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb strike. The stadium, usually a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. The discontent which met the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus for the latest time towards the top executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in message, depicted the pair with targets on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman thinks about the situation. After all, the chairman had an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and found only the outside of the goal. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the game, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s continued attacking motivation until Zeki Celik was given a opportunity from close range which he somehow hit up and onto the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were involved. The series of changes from each side resulted in this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, reached the stage of just participating.