Match Preview

A step towards the 2021-22 seasons is taken when Real Madrid takes on Rangers in Glasgow on Sunday.

This is the third preseason friendly Real will be featured in this summer after previously winning against Fuenlabrada and drawing to Rayo Vallecano this past week. It will also be Rangers’ fourth preseason match and second match in 24 hours after drawing to Brighton on Saturday.

This will be the first more official friendly for Los Blancos this preseason as the first two were more training matches. There are quite a few noticeable absences for the Madrid squad who will hopefully be close to more full health closer to the closing of the summer tour.

Injuries

Real Madrid will be without Karim Benzema, who recently tested positive for coronavirus. Rodrygo and Luka Jovic are both recovering from injuries while Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Raphael Varane and David Alaba trained separately from the group on Saturday and will likely miss.

Rangers will likely be without Jermaine Defoe who picked up injury against Arsenal. Striker Alfredo Morelos will also miss the friendly as he is resting after serving international duty with Colombia during the Copa America.

Potential XIs

Rangers

McLaughlin; Bassey, Balogun, Simpson, Patterson; Kamara, Kelly, Arfield; Wright, Hagi, Itten

Real Madrid

Lunin; Odriozola, Chust, Nacho, Marcelo; Blanco, Isco, Ødegaard; Vazquez, Arribas, Latasa

Prediction

Rangers—Real Madrid 1-1

This shouldn’t be a expected to be a high-scoring affair as both sides are missing key players from their preseason lineups. This will also be Real Madrid’s first preseason match on the road this summer.

Steven Gerrard will likely have his Scottish side playing for victory as they are closer to full strength and have had more preseason friendlies under their belt up to this point. That being said it shouldn’t be expected to see a highly hard-fought performance out of either club.

Los Blancos will conclude their summer preseason when they take on AC Milan in Austria on August 8.