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A taste of Red Bull is meant to give you wings. But the only team flying here were Bundesliga big shots RB Leipzig.

They're currently soaring in the German top flight. And it was easy to see why as they downed Rangers with an emphatic 4-0 victory.

Mark Warburton wanted this friendly to test his players ahead of the second half of the Scottish Premiership campaign.

That objective was certainly achieved - as the Ibrox men were ran ragged by a team chasing Bayern Munich in their own league.

(Image: Daily Record)

Rangers supporters got their first glimpse of Ibrox new boy Jon Toral who was handed his debut from the start in a 3-5-2 formation.

Skipper Lee Wallace wasn't risked after injury, while crocked duo Joe Garner and Joe Dodoo didn't make the trip.

With danger men like Austrian playmaker Marcel Sabitzer and German striker Davie Selke in the home ranks, this was always going to be a stiff test.

Yet, with just seconds on the clock, the visitors should have carved out a gilt-edged chance.

They broke Leipzig's high defensive line but firstly, Josh Windass and then Kenny Miller both got their passes all wrong when Barrie McKay should have been played in on goal with acres of space.

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There were opportunities for Warburton's side on the break to hurt the Germans in the first half.

But after 21 minutes, RB got their noses in front. This time Hill's loose header went straight to Sabitzer and he picked out Timo Werner whose run hadn't been tracked.

He rounded Wes Foderingham but his shot should have been saved on the line by Danny Wilson. Unfortunately for Rangers, the defender lost his footing and could only help it into the empty net.

New boy Toral, playing in a midfield trio with Andy Halliday and Jason Holt, showed some nice touches at times but he wasn't influencing the game.

(Image: Daily Record)

RB netted a second goal just before the break. Holt lost possession in the middle of the park and Leipzig sprung to devastating effect.

This time Werner was the provider as he fed Burke on the run and he buried his chance for 2-0.

It was a body blow to Warburton's men – as was their disallowed strike moments later. Toral was denied a goal on his debut after Windass was wrongly ruled offside in the build-up.

In any case, it was a terrific, controlled finish from the Spaniard who was gutted not to get on the scoresheet.

The on-loan Arsenal man was replaced at half-time by fellow debutant Hyndman as both teams made changes.

(Image: Daily Record)

But the pattern of play didn't change, with Leipzig going in search of a third.

Sub Naby Keita could have scored twice but was thwarted by two super saves from Gers' back-up 'keeper Matt Gilks.

As much as RB were impressive, Warburton's side weren't helping themselves by repeatedly gifting the Germans possession.

That was only going to lead to one thing – a third goal for the home side. Holt was mugged again in midfield and Leipzig punished them with Yussuf Poulsen slotting home from Sabitzer's set-up.

It was 72 minutes before Rangers registered a shot on target when Martyn Waghorn's long-range effort prompted a rare save from Gulacsi.

But at the other end the visitors were being cut open and with 10 minutes left, Poulsen got his second to make it 4-0.

RANGERS: 3-5-2 – Foderingham (Gilks 46 mins), Kiernan, Hill (Senderos 69 mins) Wilson, Tavernier (Hodson 46 mins), Halliday, Holt (Forrester 69 mins), Toral (Hyndman 46 mins), McKay, Windass (Waghorn 46 mins), Miller (O'Halloran 69 mins). SUBS: Bates.

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Three things we learned

1: We knew it already but it was confirmed this afternoon that Rangers have a long way to go before they can compete at European level against teams like RB Leipzig. Their priority is bridging the gap in the Scottish Premiership to get closer to Celtic. It was a stern test for Mark Warburton's men and he won't be too disheartened by the result. But the Germans were streets ahead in every department.

2: If Warburton does make one more signing in the January transer window it should be a defensive player. They're still nowhere near solid enough at the back and – without Lee Wallace – they're too open in the wing-back areas as well. The likes of Kiernan, Hill, Wilson and Tavernier are doing their best but they could do with a bit of help at the back. Philippe Senderos looks so far out of the picture that he won't feature and the Rangers gaffer has to strengthen in that area if he wants to cement second place in the Premiership.

3: Oliver Burke showed again why he's good enough to play for Scotland on a regular basis. The young winger didn't look out of place in a top quality German outfit and took his goal superbly in the first half, with calmness and composure. He caused Wilson huge problems on the right flank for 45 minutes and was one of Leipzig's key danger men.