Manchester United Triumphs Over Rangers in Pre-Season Friendly

Manchester United secured their first victory of the pre-season on Saturday with a solid 2-0 win over Rangers in Edinburgh, Scotland. The match showcased goals from Amad and Joe Hugill, which proved decisive for the Red Devils.

Played at Murrayfield Stadium, the friendly provided another chance for players to enhance their fitness levels, as a total of 21 individuals received valuable playing time. Manager Erik ten Hag was pleased with the noticeable improvements noted since their initial summer friendly.

Fans were treated to their first sighting of French defender Leny Yoro, who had just joined from Lille earlier in the week. Ten Hag’s selection included both young players and seasoned campaigners, featuring the return of Jadon Sancho, who made his first United appearance since August 26 of the previous year after a loan stint at Borussia Dortmund.

Rangers included former Manchester United goalkeeper Jack Butland and ex-forward Tom Lawrence in their squad, as they prepared for the start of their Scottish Premiership season set for August 3.

The friendly received a traditional Scottish welcome, with bagpipes echoing from the stadium roof. The kick-off was initially delayed by 15 minutes to accommodate the arriving fans. A robust crowd of 56,574 supporters witnessed a confident performance from United, who dominated possession right from the start.

Casemiro, once again wearing the captain’s armband, was the first to threaten the goal with a powerful header from a Mason Mount corner, however, it veered off target. On the opposite end, debutant Yoro made a strong impression with an expertly timed intervention against Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers.

In the 17th minute, the Red Devils almost took the lead when Amad, who previously enjoyed a loan spell with Rangers in the 2021/22 season, outmaneuvered Gers left-back Jefte and set up Ethan Wheatley, whose shot was deflected for a corner by defender Diomande. Shortly after, Amad himself went close, earning a free-kick 20 yards out that he curled just over the bar.

Andre Onana, marking one year since his transfer to Manchester United, was tested with a series of routine saves from Dessers, Scott Wright, and Tom Lawrence as Rangers began to assert themselves in the match.

Just six minutes before half-time, United finally broke the deadlock when Amad scored a stunning goal on his pre-season debut. He received the ball from Mount and expertly cut inside from the right, unleashing a precise low strike that found the far corner of Butland’s net. Amad almost doubled the score shortly after, setting up Sancho, who wasted the chance by shooting over the bar unopposed.

The second half saw Ten Hag implement numerous changes, with only Onana remaining on the pitch as part of a revamped lineup. New faces struggled initially to find their rhythm while Rangers sought to take control of the game.

Will Fish, who had previously appeared for Hibernian in Edinburgh, performed admirably, managing to thwart Rangers’ only half-time substitute, Rabbi Matondo, who threatened with a long-range effort that tested Onana.

As the match progressed, Rangers ramped up the pressure, with Wright attempting a curling shot that went wide of the goal. However, it was United who managed to extend their lead against the run of play when Joe Hugill delivered an emphatic strike in the 70th minute. After receiving a precise pass from Maxi Oyedele, Hugill unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box that rocketed past Butland and off the crossbar.

Despite United’s two-goal advantage, Rangers maintained control in the final moments, and Onana once again distinguished himself with a remarkable save to deny Ridvan Yilmaz, preserving his clean sheet. The match concluded with United having accomplished their objectives effectively during the pre-season preparations.

Looking ahead, the Reds are gearing up to embark on a trip to the United States for their next fixture against Premier League rivals Arsenal. This match will take place at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on July 28 at 01:00 BST, marking the beginning of Tour 2024, presented by Snapdragon. Like all pre-season matches, the clash against Arsenal will be broadcast live on MUTV.

In the first half, United fielded a lineup featuring Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Yoro, Evans, Murray; Casemiro (c), Collyer; Amad, Mount, Sancho; and Wheatley, while Rangers chose Butland (c); Sterling, Souttar, Davies, Jefte; Diomande, Barron; Cortes, Lawrence, Wright; and Dessers.

During the second half, United sent out a renewed lineup including Onana (c); Ogunneye, Fish, Bennett, Amass; J.Fletcher, Oyedele; Mather, Hannibal, Ennis; and Hugill. Notably, players like Mee, Vitek, Aljofree, Jackson, and Scanlon remained unused. Rangers brought in several substitutions during the latter stages as well, revealing their desire to challenge United’s dominance.