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There was admirable efficiency in the way Roma dealt with this trip to Glasgow. Without much drama. The team from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid back on track. There was a glaring difference in class between the Serie A outfit and a the Scottish team squad that has now suffered defeat in a team record seven continental matches in a row.

Positively, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a second half when surrender felt the more likely outcome. Yet, the match was decided as a contest by then. The Scottish club remain anchored at the foot 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 in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only Roma’s second-ever continental encounter with a team from Scotland since the historic Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibs in 1961. The previous one, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it mildly) by the bribing of a match official. Back then, teams from Scotland could vie with the top sides in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s main quality so far as the fanbase are see it is that he is not his predecessor. Martin’s ghastly spell as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has displayed potential albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; the Rangers boss is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was much more noticeable as the sides lined up. Rangers’ glaring lack of height against the visitors looked ominous. This point was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder comfortably redirected a set-piece at the near post. Following up, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock his team ahead. A Roma team minus the injured their young striker and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for lack of cutting edge even with reasonable performances in the tournament, were delighted with their quick lead.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Instead, Youssef Chermiti screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the visitors’ backline. The player’s £8m purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the club’s recruitment team. He has at least the physique to be an productive striker but seems reluctant or incapable to use them.

Roma dominated first-half the ball 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 pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will lament the fact Pellegrini stood in complete freedom but it was a gorgeous strike. The stadium, typically a raucous place on European nights, had been quietened with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the half-time whistle were timid; the home team were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Supporters directed their focus once again towards the top executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously menacing in tone, showed the duo with bullseyes on their images. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of the situation. Ultimately, the chairman enjoyed an anonymous life as a wealthy entrepreneur in the US before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Fans have not targeted the owner yet but there is a mutinous mood around the club. This is unsurprising; Rangers’ leadership is wholly unconvincing.

Right on cue, Chermiti was played in on goal 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 fired just wide. Yet, however, difficult to gauge the visitors’ continued offensive intent until Zeki Celik was presented with a chance from close range which he inexplicably lifted and on to the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of changes from both teams meant this game closed more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than competitive match. This of course suited Roma fine. It prompted reflection to ponder how on earth Rangers, runners-up in this tournament in recently and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, arrived at the stage of just participating.