Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2 - 0 Rangers Wed 13/07/11

RANGERS' pre-season trip to Germany ended with a 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the small town of Telgte in Lower Saxony.

The Light Blues were hoping to return to the UK tomorrow with a morale-boosting result after two defeats to Sportfreunde Lotte and VFL Bochum but tonight's Bundesliga opponents put in a powerful display.

A goal from Tranquilo Barnetta after just 14 minutes put them on their way before substitute Michael Ballack smashed home a penalty with just ten minutes remaining.

Once again this friendly provided a great test for Ally McCoist's men as they gear up for the opening SPL fixture of the season against Hearts on July 23 and this evening's run out will have boosted their fitness levels and match sharpness considerably.

Thomas Kind Bendiksen made his first start for Rangers against Champions League-bound Leverkusen.

The highly-rated Norwegian youngster has endured a torrid time with injuries in recent times but today he was rewarded for impressing in training with an outing against Robin Dutt's men as a replacement for fellow Murray Park youth product Gregg Wylde.

And with Madjid Bougherra and Kyle Lafferty back home after being sent to get injuries looked at by specialists, there was a distinctly inexperienced look to the Gers bench for kick off.

As the teams walked out on to the pitch the Champions League theme tune, Zadok the Priest, blared out of the PA system and the small training ground was crammed with fans eager to watch both teams in action.

With Juan Manuel Ortiz starting on the left and Kind Bendiksen on the right Bayer started the match positively and looked composed in possession with no 9 Andre Schurrle, in particular, a handful in attack.

But the first real attempt on goal did not arrive until the seventh minute when Leverkusen midfielder Gonzalo Castro hit a rising shot which failed to trouble McGregor.

At the other end a dangerous free kick from Steven Davis caused havoc in the Leverkusen 18 yard box before a cross from Bayer's stand-in skipper Hanno Balitch landed on the roof of McGregor's net, his industry drawing warm applause from the home support.

The opening goal was scored on 14 minutes and it was Swiss international Barnetta that broke the deadlock.

A cross came in from the left and when it fell at the playmaker's feet 18 yards out he drilled a low, accurate shot beyond McGregor who dived helplessly to his left.

Three minutes later the Bundesliga side should have been two up.

A deep corner from Augusto Renato found Balitch unmarked at the back post but his downward header somehow missed the target.

After a nervy ten minutes Rangers regrouped and started to see more of the ball with Steven Davis dropping deep to link the defence and midfield.

Nikica Jelavic, however, was not getting much change out of Bayer's powerful centre halves Stefan Reinartz and Omer Toprak.

The Germans were also looking good in attack and on 24 minutes they showed their quality when a great pass sent Brazilian Renato clear but McGregor dived to his left to make an excellent stop.

The one-touch movement from Bayer was impressive at times and on 32 minutes this was evident when Swiss-Turk forward Eren Derdiyok fed an intelligent pass through to his strike partner Schurrle but his left foot shot from a wide angle was poor.

Lee McCulloch then tried his luck from distance but his long range effort from a Jelavic knock down was skewed wide.

On 37 minutes Bayer again ripped open the Gers defence.

A disguised pass from Derdiyok found goalscorer Barnetta who wanted to find the far post but failed to put enough curl on the ball to double his side's advantage.

Before the half-time whistle Rangers had their best chance to beat keeper David Yelldell but Jelavic could only head Steven Davis' whipped cross over the bar from eight yards.

The Rangers media team had a surprise guest standing over our shoulders in the press box as the second half got underway with German legend Rudi Voller taking in the action.

And for the restart Bayer coach Dutt decided to give former Bayern Munich and Chelsea star Ballack a game to the delight of the locals.

With 50 minutes played Rangers should have levelled proceedings when a dodgy bit of goalkeeping from Yelldell saw the ball land at the feet of Davis but the slightest of touches from defender Toprak denied Rangers their first goal of this German tour.

The vistors were now zipping the ball about and a deep cross from the Northern Ireland star was headed back across goal by Ortiz and cleared nervously by Reinartz.

Despite the number of goalscoring chances created by Bayer in the opening 45 minutes their one-goal advantage meant that the Scottish Champions still had a chance of getting back in to this game.

And on 69 minutes McCoist's side should have been level.

Broadfoot and Whittaker combined from a short free kick on the right, with the latter playing to Jelavic at the back post.

He headed back across to Broadfoot but instead of shooting first time the right back controlled the ball on his chest allowing Manuel Friedrich the chance to clear for a corner.

On 80 minutes, however, the game was over when Broadfoot brought down Stefan Kiesling in the 18 yard box and the ref immediately pointed to the penalty spot.

Ballack stepped up and blasted the ball down the middle with McGregor moving to his right.

With time ticking down Rangers pushed for a consolation goal and Jelavic should have got it with three minutes to spare but Yellsell was quick off his line to make a brave stop on the six yard line.

In the end few would argue that Bayer deserved their victory but the Light Blues put in an improved display after the break and will now look to build momentum against Linfield and Blackpool before the quest for four-in-a-row begins.

Teams

RANGERS: McGregor; Whittaker, Broadfoot, Weir, Papac; Ortiz, Davis, McCulloch, Bendiksen; Naismith, Jelavic,

Subs:  Alexander, McMillan, Kerkar, Fleck, Healy, Hutton, Hemmings, Wylde,

BAYER: Yelldell, Reinartz, Barnetta, Bender, Schurrle, Renato, Balitsch, Derdiyok, Torpak, Kadlec, Castro,

Subs: Friedrich, Rolfes, Kiessling, Ballack, Sam, Da Costa, Jorgensen, Giefer, Bellarabi,

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