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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness about the way the Italian side dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when putting their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring difference in class between Roma and a the Scottish team squad that has now lost a team record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side 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 bottom of the tournament, which should represent an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not producing a result appropriately depicting men against boys.

Amazingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with a team from Scotland since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for just over four months in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is 36, his opposite number the Roma manager is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a corner at the front post. At the back, Matías Soulé burst forward to knock Roma in front. A Roma team minus the unavailable their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite decent results in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a mix-up in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit dominated opening period possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a superb strike. Ibrox, usually a raucous place on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were clearly in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious backdrop. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, the CEO, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, clearly menacing in message, depicted the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. After all, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile career as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before fronting a acquisition of Rangers. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s management is wholly unimpressive.

As if scripted, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, nonetheless, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was given a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the underside of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The raft of changes from both teams resulted in this fixture closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and worthy of the last eight a last year, reached the point of just participating.