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Roma displayed admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. Observers noted a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers side that has now lost a club record seven continental matches in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least fought hard during a second half when capitulation felt the probable option. Yet, the match was decided as a contest at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to 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. One slight disappointment here was in not delivering a result appropriately depicting 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 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the corruption of a match official. In those days, teams from Scotland could vie with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will shortly have major consequences.

Danny Röhl’s key attribute up to now as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s dismal spell as the manager continued for 123 days in the initial phase of this season. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential though within a tiny sample size. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is sixty-seven.

Another element was much more noticeable as the teams took the field. Rangers’ obvious short stature against the visitors looked worrying. This point was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to fire Roma ahead. A Roma team minus the unavailable Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness even with decent results in this campaign, were delighted with their quick lead.

Rangers could have equalised instantly. Instead, the forward sent his effort off target after a mix-up in the visitors’ backline. Chermiti’s £8m signing from the Toffees has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit dominated first-half the ball thereafter. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the far post of Jack Butland’s net came after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. The hosts will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. The stadium, usually a boisterous venue on European nights, had been quietened nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being overwhelmed.

After the break started against a curious atmosphere. Supporters turned their attentions for the latest time towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in message, depicted the pair with targets on their images. It raises questions what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh had an low-profile life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the United States before leading a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked Rangers’ finest spell of the match, in which their replacement the young midfielder fired just wide. Yet, however, hard to gauge the visitors’ remaining offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and on to the bottom of the crossbar.

That was it as far as meaningful chances were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. That scenario benefited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, finalists in this competition in recently and worthy of the last eight a season ago, arrived at the stage of making up the numbers.