Real Madrid finished last season with one of the most resilient stories coming out of football in a long time. They had suffered over 60 injuries in one season (which is the world record for any football club in Europe) and still reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Additionally, they were just two points from Atletico Madrid at the end of the season as the race for the La Liga crown went down to the wire. However, their preseason began horribly as they lost to Scottish champions Rangers FC at their stadium Ibrox.
1⃣ The first #RangersFC goal for @fashionjr10.
📺 Watch the full match and highlights on RangersTV: https://t.co/bFpa1WQxeB pic.twitter.com/cgM2F4THVM
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 25, 2021
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The Spanish side scored first as Rodrygo netted the club’s first goal of the 2021-22 season, but their opponents came back to score twice and managed to beat Madrid with a final score of 2-1. The club is managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, and he has brought Rangers back to the top in Scotland.
Meanwhile, this was Carlo Ancelotti’s first game in charge at his second stint in Real Madrid. He managed to win the UCL with Madrid and brought them their 10th UCL trophy. However, he will need to change a lot of things up if he wants to replicate his success.
The first half went well for Madrid as they were 1-0 up, but it all went down in the second half. Fashion Sakala equalized for Rangers in the 55th minute, and then Madrid defender Nacho got himself sent off in the 75th minute. Cedric Itten netted the winner just two minutes later as Rangers got the result they deserved.
Real Madrid and their crisis at center-back
The Los Blancos have never struggled financially, and hence, it is a surprise for the club’s fans when Madrid has reportedly decided not to sign a single player this season.
This will be daunting for Ancelotti as he has already lost one of the best center-backs of the last decade in Sergio Ramos, who moved to PSG.
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Official bid from Man Utd for Raphaël Varane to be submitted in the next few days – Utd board ‘confident’, deal getting closer. 🔴 #MUFC
Varane has an almost ready agreement on personal terms – he’s NOT extending with Real, he wants a new challenge. No other clubs in the race.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 25, 2021
French world cup winner Raphael Varane might soon follow him out of the door, and Madrid are still reportedly reluctant to sign a replacement. They did sign former Bayern Munich defender David Alaba for free, and he’ll see a lot of playing time this season.
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Do you think either Nacho or Eder Militao are good enough to play alongside Alaba?
Read More: Has Mikel Arteta Found the Perfect Adaptable Defender in Calum Chambers for Arsenal?
