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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way the Italian side handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when placing their European competition bid back on track. Observers noted a obvious 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.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of such stature. The Giallorossi have ambitions again on achieving significant success. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a result that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since the historic Fairs Cup business with Hibs in the early 60s. The previous one, against the Terrors over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the bribing of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not Russell Martin. Martin’s dismal spell as the head coach continued for just over four months in the initial phase of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a generation game; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious lack of height against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé burst forward to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team without the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable results in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers could have levelled matters instantly. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s £8m signing from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled opening period the ball thereafter. Roma extended their advantage through their captain, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. The hosts will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, typically a boisterous venue on continental evenings, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were timid; Rangers were clearly in the process of being outclassed.

After the break began against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, the CEO, and sporting director, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a acquisition of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a rebellious feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ management is completely unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s finest spell of the match, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was given a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of substitutions from each side resulted in this game ended more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma perfectly. There was cause to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a season ago, arrived at the point of making up the numbers.