Hamburg's Lidovit Reis (r.) gets to grips with Kieran Dowell of Rangers. - © Getty Images

2. Bundesliga, bundesliga

Hamburg beaten by Rangers in pre-season friendly

22.07.2023

Jean-Luc Dompe scored a sensational last-minute free-kick for Hamburg in Glasgow but it was too little, too late for his side in a 2-1 friendly defeat against Rangers.

As it happened...

2 - 1

(2 - 0)

Rangers

FINAL

Hamburg

Friendly
Pre-season Pre-season Ibrox Stadium

Full-time

90'

+ 1

HSV reduce the deficit

A sublime goal from Dompe, who smashes a free-kick from the edge of the area beyond the wall and into the top corner!

90'

+ 1

Jean-Luc Dompé

GOAL!

2:1

85'

Wide from Lammers

Lawrence curls in a cross from the right. Lammers beats his marker to get to the ball first at the near post but he can only flick it just wide.

81'

Over from Dressers

Roofe puts goalkeeper Raab under pressure and he can only clear the ball to Dessers, on the edge of the box. It's a tricky one to take first-time but the Rangers attacker goes for it, with an open goal to aim for, but he doesn't make a clean connection and the ball goes over.

76'

Lammers making mischief

The former Eintracht Frankfurt striker shows quick feet down the Rangers right, twisting and turning to create some space before drilling a cross into the box that HSV are relieved to clear.

72'

Crossbar!

Suddenly there's chaos in the HSV box as Rangers switch gears. Cantwell loops a header from the edge of the box onto the crossbar before a follow-up shot from Dessers is blocked by Raab!

70'

Playing keep ball

Rangers are stroking the ball patiently in their own ranks at the moment, happy to try and lure HSV out.

66'

Quick break

Rangers look in control now and get forward well down the right after regaining possession. Cantwell sprints into the box trying to get on the end of a probing pass but a HSV defender just nips in to clear.

59'

Almost a third

Tavernier floats a cross into the box and finds Lammers. His header goes off target but falls kindly for Sima, who tries to find the net but loops it over the bar.

57'

Reis to the rescue

Rangers break forward well down the left and cross into the middle. They've got runners arriving but Reis spies the danger and hooks clear for a corner.

Fast paced

As pre-season friendlies go, this has been one of the more watchable ones, with both teams going for it in competition mode, rather than summer kickabout mode.

46'

Back underway

The ball is rolling at Ibrox once again. Both teams have made a few substitutions. We'll have confirmation of those for you in just a moment.

Kick-off!

Half-time

45'

Rangers double their advantage

Tavernier stutters is run-up but Heuer Fernandes still guesses the right way when he dives full stretch to his left, but the Rangers captain's spot-kick has too much power.

45'

James Tavernier

GOAL!

2:0

45'

Penalty to Rangers

Fashion Junior jinks into the box down the left and is brought down by a clumsy challenge from Ramos. It's a clear penalty for the home side.

39'

Rangers lead

There appears to be little danger on the cards as HSV intercept the ball at the back, but they play themselves into trouble with too many short passes in quick succession. Fashion Junior senses there might be something on and hounds Heyer and Reis, eventually getting the ball and poking it in from close range.

38'

Fashion Junior

GOAL!

1:0

35'

Pheria again!

Another free-kick, again left of centre, but this one's right on the edge of the box. Pheria curls it over the wall, looking for the top-left corner, but it flies just over the bar.

34'

Pherai goes close!

Another free-kick for HSV, in a similar position to the one just a couple of minutes ago. Pherai takes it again and goes for goal himself this time, but sends a dipping, curling effort just wide of the far post.

31'

Big save from Heuer Fernandes

Fashion Junior tears away down the left for Rangers before cutting inside and shooting from the edge of the box. Heuer Fernandes gets down well to his left to make the save, before Sima balloons the rebound over the crossbar.

29'

Promising position

HSV win a free-kick about 35 yards from goal, left of centre. It's floated into the box looking for the height of Glatzel, but he's just bumped off his stride by Tavernier and the ball bounces out of play.

25'

Sitting deep

Tim Walter's men are camped in their own half and only pressing their hosts whenever they cross the halfway line. HSV's forays forward have been decent so far, but just not frequent enough.

21'

Double chance!

Rangers get forward well down the right and when a cross into the middle isn't properly cleared, the Scottish side almost take the lead. First, Dowell smashes a first-time drive at goal that's blocked on the line, before Hagi puts the rebound over.

16'

Almost another opening

Königsdörffer tries to make something happen again, this time in a central position as he attempts to jink past two Rangers players. Glatzel wants a pass to run on to but Königsdörffer just overhits it, and the chance goes begging.

13'

Chance for Hamburg!

Glatzel wins possession on the halfway line and strides forward, with the defence backing off him. He spies a pass for Königsdörffer and slides it beautifully between two defenders for his teammate, who smashes an angled shot into the side netting.

10'

Next opening!

Another quick attack from Rangers, this time down the right. The cross into the box finds former Schalke winger Matondo arriving in the box, but his first touch is loose, allowing Heuer Fernandes to smother the danger.

Chance for Rangers!

A brilliant pass from deep releases Rangers down the left. A brilliant cross from Ridvan is whipped into the box and comes to Hagi, who takes a superb first touch to steady himself at the back post, but he can only rifle a shot into the side netting!

Rangers on top

The home side, in their traditional blue shirts, white shorts and dark socks, are on the front foot early on and forcing HSV to defend early doors.

Game on!

Away we go at Ibrox. We're all set for a fascinating friendly here.

Team news

Some bad news for Hamburg in the build-up to this friendly with William Mikelbrencis having presented with a hip injury that will keep the French defender sidelined for a few weeks. Elsewhere, new arrivals Immanuel Pherai, Levin Öztunali, Guilherme Ramos and Ignace Van der Brempt are all in from the get-go for Der Dino.

Hamburg starting XI

Heuer Fernandes – Van der Brempt, Ramos, Hadzikadunic, Heyer – Reis (c), Meffert, Öztunali - Königsdörffer, Glatzel, Pherai

Hamburg subs

To be confirmed ....

Rangers starting XI

Butland, Tavernier (c), Davies, Balogun, Ridvan, Dowell, Raskin, Hagi, Matondo, Fashion, Sima

Rangers subs

McCrorie, McLaughlin, Lundstram, Souttar, Dessers, Lawrence, Cantwell, Lammers, Roofe, Barisic, Yfeko, Rice

Team news latest

HSV will be without Anssi Suhonen today after the midfielder broke his leg during the team's recent training camp in Austria. The Finn - who made 18 appearances for Der Dino last term - is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

Defensive improvements

Despite HSV coach Tim Walter's satisfaction with the recent training camp in Kitzbühel, Austria, there will be some slight concerns about Hamburg's defensive stability ahead of the big Bundesliga 2 kick-off next Friday. The Red Shorts have shipped nine goals in their three friendlies to date and will want to put on an improved defensive showing today.

One to watch

There's no doubting who HSV's danger man is: Robert Glatzel: the trigger-happy forward took more shots than any other player in Bundelsiga 2 last season (114), and finished as the division's second-highest scorer with 19 goals and three assists. He's likely to be key once again as Hamburg launch another attempt at promotion back to the promised land.

Impressive record

Hamburg head coach Tim Walter, who has been at the helm since July 2021, has enjoyed an impressive run of results, winning 36 of 67 Bundesliga 2 games to date (54%). He's also drawn 17 and lost just 14.

Familiar faces

Eagle-eyed Bundesliga watchers will see some familiar names in the Rangers squad: Berlin-born centre-back Leon Balogun, who returned to the club this summer, made 75 Bundesliga appearances and another 32 in Bundesliga 2 across spells at Hannover, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Darmstadt and Mainz. Meanwhile, winger Rabbi Matondo made 30 Bundesliga outings for Schalke between 2019 and 2022, and Sam Lammers hit one goal in 15 top-flight games for Frankfurt in 2021/22.

Head-to-head

While these sides may never have met competitively, Rangers do have plenty of experience against German opposition. In fact, they have faced Bundesliga sides 78 times over the years in Europe, producing varied results: 20 wins, 21 defeats and 37 draws. Eintracht Frankfurt appear to be their bogey team: they've faced the Eagles three times and lost every time - most recently in the 2022 UEFA Europa League final.

1:58

Last season - Hamburg just miss out on promotion

Hamburg came agonisingly close to returning to the Bundesliga for the first time since 2018 last season. They finished a single point short of the two promotion spots in third place - with many fans thinking a final day victory at Sandhausen would be see them go up, until rivals Heidenheim scored twice in stoppage time. Hamburg then lost a promotion/relegation play-off against VfB Stuttgart 6-1 on aggregate.

Hamburg busy in transfer window

Hamburg have signed four players so far this summer. Two attacking midfielders - Immanuel Pherai from Eintracht Braunschweig and Levin Öztunali from Union Berlin - centre-back Guilherme Ramos from Arminia Bielefeld and Ignace Van der Brempt on loan from Red Bull Salzburg. It will be fascinating to see how many feature against Rangers...

Mixed results for Hamburg

Hamburg have played three pre-season friendlies so far this summer with one win (3-2 v Verden), one draw (3-3 v Viktoria Plzen) and one loss (1-4 v Red Bull Salzburg). It's a similar story for the Scottish runners-up, who have beaten Hallescher SC 2-0 but lost 1-2 to Newcastle United.

1:43

Watch: Just a week to go!

It's safe to say there is a huge sense of anticipation ahead of Hamburg's Bundesliga 2 opener against freshly relegated Schalke on Friday night (28 July).

Friends will be friends

Rangers and Hamburg signed an agreement to be officially partner clubs in 2021. Supporters of the two clubs have developed friendships for decades - with Hamburg's website stating it goes right back to the 1970s when the clubs played a pair of friendly matches against one another.

Tough final test

Hamburg have just completed a training camp in Austria and will fly to Glasgow before returning to Germany promptly to prepare for the start of the Bundesliga 2 season. They face a tasty-looking opening day battle at home to Schalke next Friday evening.

Welcome along

Thank you for joining us for build-up and live match coverage of this pre-season friendly between Rangers and Hamburg.

Match stats

Glatzel was Hamburg's 19-goal top scorer in Bundesliga 2 last season.
HSV scored a league-high 70 goals in 2022/23.
The Red Shorts have faced Scottish opposition 14 times in European competitions (W8, D2, L4).
Retired midfielder Jörg Albertz, a member of the Bundesliga Legends Network, played for Hamburg and Rangers between 1993 and 2003.
Rangers have lost 19 of 49 games against clubs from Germany (W15, D15).
Rangers trio Balogun, Lammers and Rabbi Matondo have made a combined 120 Bundesliga appearances.

CONFIRMED teams

Hamburg: Heuer Fernandes – Van der Brempt, Ramos, Hadzikadunic, Heyer – Reis (c), Meffert, Öztunali - Königsdörffer, Glatzel, Pherai
Subs:
Out: Mikelbrencis (hip), Suhonen (broken leg), Vuskovic (suspended)
Coach: Tim Walter

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (c), Davies, Balogun, Ridvan, Dowell, Raskin, Hagi, Matondo, Fashion, Sima
Subs: McCrorie, McLaughlin, Lundstram, Souttar, Dessers, Lawrence, Cantwell, Lammers, Roofe, Barisic, Yfeko, Rice
Out: King (ankle), Sterling (calf)
Coach: Michael Beale