MICHAEL BEALE has challenged Rangers to carry the momentum from the win over Real Madrid into the start of their Premiership title defence.

The champions rounded off their pre-season schedule with a memorable 2-1 victory against Carlo Ancelotti's side last weekend as Fashion Sakala and Cedric Itten found the target at Ibrox.

The Madrid clash came just 24 hours after Steven Gerrard's side were held by Brighton and Arsenal, Tranmere and Partick Thistle have also provided opposition during the last few weeks.

Rangers get their Premiership campaign off and running with the visit of Livingston on Saturday before they return to Champions League duty and make the trip to face Malmo in the third qualifying round.

And Ibrox coach Beale is encouraged with the progression that Gerrard's side have shown throughout the summer as all attentions turn to the opening day of the new league season.

Beale told RangersTV: "After the Arsenal game, there were some things we felt we needed to find in-terms of intensity and urgency and energy on the pitch.

"I thought we showed that against Brighton for large spells, and then with a completely different team on Sunday starting, we found that again, maybe 10 per-cent more.

"They are three very, very good teams. If you look financially how much the players are worth in both teams, you are talking about top, top players.

"Those players don't give the ball away too easily if you harass them and you press them, and also, they are very, very good at closing your space down when you have got possession.

"So, you have to be at your level and I think we have shown in the last week we are in a pleasing place, albeit, the league hasn't started and it starts Saturday, so that is the moment we really need to show it."