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Roma displayed impressive effectiveness in the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. The team 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 Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven continental matches consecutively.

Positively, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when capitulation felt the probable option. However, the match was decided as a competition by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot of the tournament, which should constitute an disgrace to a club of this standing. The Giallorossi have ambitions once more on making proper impact. Their only regret in this match was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Amazingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in 1961. Their last such match, against the Terrors 23 years later, became marred (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. In those days, Scottish clubs could compete with the best in Europe. This season has seen the co-efficient plunge to a level that will soon have huge consequences.

The new manager’s main quality up to now as the fanbase are concerned is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of the campaign. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a limited timeframe. The dugouts saw a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is 36, his counterpart Gian Piero Gasperini is 67.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the teams lined up. The home team’s glaring lack of height against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was confirmed within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team without the unavailable their young striker and their star attacker, who have been criticised for bluntness even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side could have equalised instantly. Instead, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has increased scrutiny of the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physical attributes to be an productive centre forward but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

The Italian outfit controlled first-half possession from that point. They doubled their lead through their captain, whose curling shot into the bottom corner of the goalkeeper’s net arrived after a lay off from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact Pellegrini was left in blissful isolation but it was a gorgeous finish. Ibrox, usually a raucous venue on European nights, had been silenced nine minutes before the break. Even the boos which greeted the half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being outclassed.

The second period started against a curious backdrop. Supporters turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, Kevin Thelwell. A pair of displays, clearly menacing in tone, showed the duo with targets on their images. One wonders what the club owner thinks about the situation. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an low-profile life as a successful businessman in the United States before leading a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not turned on the owner so far but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is completely unimpressive.

As if scripted, Chermiti was played in on goal on the 60-minute mark and hit the side netting. That moment sparked the home side’s best period of the match, in which their replacement Thelo Aasgaard shot narrowly past the post. Yet, however, hard to determine Roma’s remaining attacking motivation until the full-back was presented with a chance from close range which he somehow lifted and on to the bottom of the bar.

That opportunity as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The raft of changes from each side resulted in this fixture ended more in the style of a summer exhibition than serious contest. That scenario benefited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how exactly the Glasgow club, runners-up in this competition in recently and strong enough of the last eight a last year, arrived at the point of just participating.