Rangers 2-1 Real Madrid: Steven Gerrard's side outclass La Liga giants at Ibrox

Real Madrid were overcome at Ibrox. Now the focus is on Livingston and either Malmo or HJK Helsinki as Rangers look to take this friendly victory into the competitive fixtures.

Four months after they clinched their Premiership title and two since the silverware was held aloft at Ibrox, Steven Gerrard’s side will begin the defence of 55. It is time to get down to business.

The ambition of achieving that historic target lasted a decade. The push for 56 will begin on Saturday and it will become evident sooner rather than later whether the champions are destined to be serial winners or one season wonders.

The performances and results during the build-up to the new campaign have given supporters enough encouragement to believe that the success that they waited so long for will be added to at the first attempt. This is a side with much more to achieve.

Defeat to Tranmere followed the victory over Partick Thistle, while this meeting with Carlo Ancelotti’s side was preceded by draws against Premier League opposition in the shape of Arsenal and Brighton.

One fixture, of course, stands out from that schedule. One performance does, too, and Rangers stepped it up a gear at just the right time as preparations for the Premiership were finalised.

The visit of Real was always going to be more about the occasion than the result but Rangers would produce an accomplished first half showing, one full of energy and threat. In the second, they added a finishing touch as goals from Fashion Sakala and Cedric Itten clinched a memorable victory.

It was nothing less than the champions merited. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening at Ibrox and the positives were plentiful for Gerrard as Rangers shone in the sunshine.

The biggest name to visit Govan in several years drew the largest crowd to assemble here since the Europa League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. This may only have been a friendly, but it had the sight and sound of a proper fixture.

A chorus of ‘Glasgow Rangers champions’ greeted the teams before kick-off. As the pyrotechnics erupted on the touchline, the famous all-white kit of Madrid took to the Ibrox park for only the second time.

The meeting with Brighton the previous afternoon had felt like a kickabout. The selection from Gerrard was respectful of the challenge that Real would provide, of course, but also an indicator of the side that could start when Livingston visit next time out.

Ancelotti may have left some of his star attractions at home, but his side still included Marcelo, Lucas Vazquez, Isco, Martin Odegaard and Luka Jovic. The fans would admire Madrid, but they were here to see Rangers.

Just eight minutes in, they would witness their side fall behind, though. Another of the multi-million pound talents, Brazilian star Rodrygo, got the better of Steven Davis as well as the break of the ball and the finish – dinked over Allan McGregor on the angle – was as cool and composed as you would expect.

The opening goal was against the run of play and harsh on a Rangers side that had started on the front foot. It wouldn’t knock them, though, as the champions settled into an impressive rhythm that saw them take the game to their superstar visitors.

The front three of Scott Wright, Ryan Kent and summer signing Sakala were direct and tricky and they would become increasingly influential after Connor Goldson forced keeper Andreii Lunin to make a smart save from his header.

Sakala showed neat footwork to get a shot away after being found by Wright and those two would combine to produce Rangers’ clearest chance on the half hour mark.

Sakala should arguably have done better after being picked out by the former Aberdeen man. There is no doubt that Kent should have, though, as he hit the bar from just a couple of yards as he found himself in the right place at the right time and failed to capitalise.

A free-kick from Ianis Hagi was well saved by Lunin and Kent was frustrated once again as a low strike from distance was blocked after he was picked out by the Romanian playmaker.

The fact that Madrid would register just one shot on target in the first half told its own story. Rangers may have been behind, but they were in control for large swathes of an entertaining encounter.

Ten minutes after the interval, as the clock struck the immortal 55, Rangers had the goal that they deserved. And Sakala had the strike that his play had merited as he made an instant impression at Ibrox.

Glen Kamara pressured Vazquez in midfield. Sakala nipped in then burst away and his finish at the near post was emphatic to open his account for Rangers.

The fans that had quickly become fans of his style roared in celebration, while his team-mates were clearly chuffed for a striker who has overcome so much on his journey from Zambia to Scotland. On the early evidence, this goal could be the first of many and he received a warm applause before being embraced by Gerrard during a raft of changes on the hour mark.

Those switches saw James Tavernier take up a place in the Rangers forward line as Nathan Patterson entered the action at right back. The option of having both players in the side is an experiment that is still in its infancy, and it would only last a few minutes here before Jordan Jones was introduced.

It was another substitute that got the winner. Just seconds after Nacho had been sent off after collecting a second yellow card, Itten added to Madrid’s misery with a lovely finish as the ball broke to him in the area and he dispatched it into the bottom corner.

That was enough for Rangers on the day and their pre-season plans came to a pleasing end. Now they must get their Premiership campaign off to a perfect start.