RANGERS defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in a friendly at Ibrox this afternoon as they ramped-up preparations ahead of the return of the Scottish Premiership next week.
A first-half double from Malik Tillman and a late strike from Scott Arfield saw the Light Blues to victory in what was Michael Beale’s first match in the dugout as manager.
Allan McGregor started in goal, with James Tavernier, Leon King, James Sands and Adam Devine in front of him.
Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara were in midfield alongside Malik Tillman, while Rabbi Matondo and Ryan Kent provided support up front for Antonio Colak.
It was a good start from Rangers as they dominated possession in the early stages in front of the Ibrox crowd.
Allan McGregor was called into action as a corner from Kerem Demirbay was headed towards goal by Jonathan Tah but the Gers keeper got a strong block on the effort before the danger was cleared.
The Light Blues were continuing to probe for an opening goal as Ryan Kent saw a curling right-footed strike deflected just wide of the target.
With 15 minutes on the clock, the goal did come as Rangers got the early breakthrough in this friendly match. It was positive build-up play again as captain James Tavernier whipped a dangerous ball into the box from the right, with Malik Tillman making a darting run into the box to get on the end of it and coolly finish beyond Lukas Hrdacky.
Just over five minutes later, Michael Beale’s side doubled their advantage and it was again James Tavernier and Malik Tillman involved in the goal.
A corner to Rangers was swung into the box by the captain, with Tillman rising highest to get a strong connection on the ball to head beyond Hrdacky for his second goal of the afternoon.
Rabbi Matondo had a shot wide of the target as he raced into the box, before Amine Adli had a strike at the other end but it hit the side netting.
Michael Beale named seven changes at half-time as more players were given the opportunity to get minutes under their belt ahead of Thursday evening.
Jon McLaughlin, Scott Wright, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield, Fashion Jr, John Lundstram and Alfredo Morelos were all introduced in place of Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara, Malik Tillman, Rabbi Matondo, Ryan Kent and Antonio Colak.
Rangers had a fantastic opportunity to add to the scoring in the 55th minute as Alfredo Morelos picked out the run of Scott Arfield in the box. The midfielder got a touch to get a shot away but it was blocked well by Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hrdacky.
Alex Lowry was introduced for the final 20 minutes of the match as he replaced Fashion Sakala. The young midfielder was involved instantly with a shot as he latched on the end of a ball from Alfredo Morelos to send a strike towards goal from the edge of the box but it was just wide of the target.
Leverkusen came close to getting a goal back as the ball broke for substitute Noah Pesch but his initial shot was blocked well by Jon McLaughlin before captain James Tavernier denied the rebound.
Rangers were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes of the match remaining as Alfredo Morelos was brought down in the box following another positive attack from the Light Blues.
James Tavernier stepped-up to the spot, but his strike bounced off the post before the danger was cleared by the visitors.
However, Rangers didn’t have to wait long for that third goal as it came in the 84th minute. It all started with Alex Lowry who went on a driving run into the Bayer Leverkusen half before feeding the ball into the box to Alfredo Morelos. Morelos managed to touch the ball into the path of Scott Arfield who made no mistake in slotting low beyond Hrdacky.
Leon King and Adam Devine were replaced late in the game as Charlie McCann and Robbie Fraser were introduced, the latter for his first-team debut.
Alfredo Morelos was denied by Hrdacky late in the game as the goalkeeper got a strong hand to a strike from the Colombian.
RANGERS: McGregor (McLaughlin, 46), Tavernier, King (McCann, 84), Sands, Devine (Fraser, 84), Jack (Wright, 46), Kamara (Davis, 46), Tillman (Arfield, 46), Matondo (Fashion Jr, 46, (Lowry, 71)), Kent (Lundstram, 46), Colak (Morelos, 46).
Subs: McCrorie, McCann, Fraser.
Bayer Leverkusen: Hrdacky, Tah, Andrich, Demirbay, Tapsoba, Diaby, Adli, Sinkgraven, Hlozek, Sertdemir, Azhil.
Subs: Lomb, Bakker, Kossounou, Amiri, Pesch, Bellarabi, Monamay, Okafor, Wirtz
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