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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way the Italian side dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Rome did, however, meet favourable opposition when putting their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable option. However, the match was settled as a contest by then. Rangers remain rooted to the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an disgrace to a team of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in Europe. This season has seen the UEFA coefficient drop to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he isn’t his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the head coach lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the new man at the helm, has shown promise though within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw 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 sides lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably flicked on a corner at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger burst forward to knock Roma ahead. The visitors minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Rather, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an productive striker but appears reluctant or incapable to utilize them fully.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half the ball thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose bent effort into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net came after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. The stadium, typically a raucous place on continental evenings, had been quietened nine minutes until halftime. The discontent which greeted the interval were timid; Rangers were clearly in the midst of being outclassed.

After the break began against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly sinister in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their faces. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. After all, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a takeover of this club. Fans have not turned on Cavenagh yet but there is a mutinous feeling in the air. This is unsurprising; The team’s management is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on goal on the hour mark and found only the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. Yet, nonetheless, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from both teams meant this fixture closed more in the fashion of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians fine. There was cause to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in 2022 and worthy of the quarter-finals a season ago, reached the point of just participating.