Steven Gerrard’s Rangers earned a much-deserved 2-1 friendly win over Real Madrid in Carlo Ancelotti’s first game since his return as manager.
Scorers: Sakala 55′, Itten 77′.; Rodrygo 8′.
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Brazilian winger Rodrygo gave Real the lead, finishing off a blistering counter-attack by turning Steven Davis inside out within the penalty area before poking the ball past Allan McGregor.
Steven Gerrard’s side dominated the rest of the half, accumulating 17 shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes alone and striker Fashion Sakala was unlucky not to equalise ten minutes later when his deflected shot flew just wide of the post.
Ryan Kent will then be wondering how he didn’t level proceedings when he struck the crossbar from just four yards out.
The pressure did eventually tell at the start of the second half, with Sakala taking advantage of Glen Kamara winning the ball back high up the pitch by pacing into the penalty area before blasting the ball past Andriy Lunin to equalise.
Teenager Miguel Gutiérrez came off the bench to almost restore Real’s lead when his left-footed effort hit the outside of the post, before Ancelotti saw his side reduced to ten men when Nacho was sent off for a second bookable offence.
But the hosts got their reward in the end when Cedric Itten took advantage of a poor clearance by Real Madrid to drill the ball into the bottom corner with 13 minutes to go to earn the win for Rangers.r Rangers.
