Real Madrid and France star Karim Benzema won’t be involved in this weekend’s pre-season friendly with Rangers at Ibrox after the Spanish giants confirmed that he has tested positive for Covid-19.
Madrid head to Ibrox on Sunday for their opening pre-season fixture and fans were hoping to catch a glimpse of the striker alongside new Bernabeu teammate David Alaba as Steven Gerrard’s Rangers wrap up their own pre-season.
The Light Blues have a hectic weekend with Brighton the visitors to Ibrox on Saturday before Rangers take on Madrid in the first meeting of the two sides in over 50 years.
While fans were hoping to see the French international in action, it seems unlikely he would have featured against Rangers anyway after being involved in the latter stages of Euro 2020 with his national team.
That should also mean there is little chance of the striker’s positive test posing any risk to the fixture – or the Rangers players – after the friendly with Blackpool had to be scrapped due to Covid issues.
Rangers have already faced Partick Thistle, Tranmere Rovers and Arsenal so far in pre-season and the games against Brighton and Real Madrid will see increased numbers of fans allowed inside Ibrox.
The game on Saturday against the Seagulls will see around 8500 fans given access while the Los Blancos fixture will have a capacity of just under 13000.
Rangers kick off the defence of their Premiership title on July 31 when they welcome Livingston to Ibrox – however, the Gers won’t be raising the league flag as is customary on the opening day of the new season.
As crowds increase, Rangers have pushed the flag day festivities until the Premiership clash with Motherwell to allow as many fans as possible to be in attendance when the first top-flight flag in a decade is hoisted.
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