Sam Lammers shines for Rangers as strike star comes to the rescue after hapless defending in Hoffenheim - 3 talking points

Michael Beale said he was treating the trip to Hoffenheim like a European game and in the end his Rangers side got the kind of result that you would be happy to come away with on the continent.

But that was only after a first half that had would have given fans the fear ahead of not only their upcoming Champions League qualifier, but even next Saturday's Scottish Premiership opener at Kilmarnock. That's how bad the defending was as the Light Blues went two goals down at the PreZero Arena.

There was real cause for concern - and there still is to an extent - but the recovery helped ease that a bit, not to mention the fact Beale was without key starters in the backline, before a penalty from James Tavernier and Sam Lammers header earned a draw. Beale was robbed of current central defensive first picks John Souttar and Ben Davies with the duo ruled out with a sickness bug. This was the fourth game in 12 days in a busy pre-season schedule and now it’s all about Rugby Park for that Scottish Premiership opener in seven days time.

It was clear early on that the visitors would face a stiff test against a side who had already beaten Feyenoord 4-2 in pre-season and finished mid-table in the Bundesliga last season. James Tavernier was sloppy in possession inside the first two minutes and Hoffenheim broke with Jack Butland forced into a smart save to deny Kevin Vogt. The skipper then flashed a half volley just off target at the other end.

Butland was proving his quality more than Beale would probably have liked and the ex-Crystal Palace man made a great stop with his feet to deny Angelo Stiller after the midfielder beat Leon Balogun to a Marius Bulter cross from the left.

But the new Rangers No. 1 could only hold out for so long