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There was admirable efficiency about the way Roma dealt with this journey to Scotland. Minimum of fuss. Roma from Italy’s capital did, nonetheless, face manageable rivals when placing their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between Roma and a Rangers squad that has now lost a team record seven continental matches consecutively.

To their credit, Rangers at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the probable outcome. Yet, the game was settled as a competition at that stage. The Scottish club remain rooted to the foot of the tournament, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of this standing. Roma have ambitions again on making proper impact. Their only regret here was in not delivering a scoreline that truly reflected the mismatch in quality.

Surprisingly, this marked only the Roman club’s second continental encounter with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup fixtures with Hibernian in the early 60s. Their last such match, against Dundee United over two decades later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a match official. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the best in Europe. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have major ramifications.

The new manager’s key attribute so far as the Rangers support are see it is that he is not his predecessor. The latter’s dismal tenure as the manager lasted 123 days in the early part of this season. The German coach, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise though within a tiny sample size. The technical areas witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his opposite number the Roma manager is sixty-seven.

A further factor was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked worrying. That concern was proven within 13 minutes as the Roma midfielder easily flicked on a set-piece at the front post. At the back, the Argentine winger sprinted into space to knock Roma in front. The visitors minus the injured Evan Ferguson and Paulo Dybala, who have been criticised for bluntness despite reasonable performances in this campaign, were delighted with their early advantage.

Rangers should have equalised immediately. Instead, the forward screwed his shot wide after a defensive error in the Roma defence. Chermiti’s £8m signing from Everton has increased scrutiny of the Rangers transfer hierarchy. He has at least the physical attributes to be an effective centre forward but seems unwilling or unable to use them.

Roma dominated opening period possession from that point. Roma doubled their lead through their captain, whose bent effort into the far post of Jack Butland’s net arrived after a pass from Artem Dovbyk. Rangers will bemoan the fact the midfielder was left in complete freedom 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 half-time whistle were subdued; Rangers were simply in the process of being overwhelmed.

After the break began against a unusual backdrop. Those Rangers fans directed their focus once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and transfer chief, the director. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the club owner makes of all this. Ultimately, the chairman had an anonymous career as a successful businessman in the United States before fronting a takeover of Rangers. Paying punters have not turned on the owner yet but there is a mutinous feeling around the club. It is one which is easy to understand; The team’s leadership is wholly unconvincing.

As if scripted, Chermiti was sent through on the keeper on the 60-minute mark and hit the outside of the goal. This actually triggered Rangers’ finest spell of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder fired just wide. It was, however, hard to determine the visitors’ continued offensive intent until the full-back was presented with a chance all of a yard out which he inexplicably hit up and onto the bottom of the bar.

That was it as far as meaningful opportunity were concerned. The series of changes from each side meant this fixture ended more in the fashion of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited Roma fine. 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 season ago, reached the stage of just participating.