Sunday, July 20

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Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Rangers and Panathinaikos, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Rangers will be bidding to use home advantage to secure a positive result when they host Panathinaikos in the first leg of their second qualifying round contest in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Gers finished second in the Scottish Premiership last term, which saw them qualify for this round of the Champions League, while Panathinaikos were second in the Greek Super League last season.

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Match preview

Rangers have not won Scotland's top flight since 2020-21, again falling short last term, finishing in second spot, some 17 points behind the champions Celtic, who are in the Champions League playoff round.

The Gers will need to navigate their way through the early rounds of the Champions League if they are to be present in the league phase, though, and Panathinaikos are certain to provide tricky opposition at this stage.

Russell Martin's side have only played one friendly this summer, drawing 2-2 with Club Brugge on July 6, and they will take on Middlesbrough in another friendly in the middle of their two legs with Panathinaikos.

Rangers, who famously won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972, will then begin their Scottish Premiership campaign against Motherwell on August 2.

The Scottish giants have been incredibly active during this summer's transfer window, with eight new players arriving, including Oscar Cortes from Lens, while there have also been five departures on free transfers.

Panathinaikos, meanwhile, are 20-time Greek champions, but they have not managed to win the top prize since 2010, ending last season in second, which saw them qualify for the Champions League second qualifying round.

The Greens finished as runners-up in the Champions League in 1971, losing to Ajax in the final, while they were also semi-finalists in 1985 and 1986, and quarter-finalists in 1992 and 2002.

Last season, Rui Vitoria's side played in the Conference League, reaching the round of 16, where they were beaten by Fiorentina, but they have not featured in the group stage of the Champions League since 2011.

Panathinaikos have made four signings this summer, with Pedro Chirivella the most notable of those, making the move from Nantes.

There have also been seven departures, so there will be a fresh look to the squad during the 2025-26 campaign, and they will be determined to secure a positive result in the first leg of their European clash in Scotland ahead of the return match in Greece on July 30.

Rangers pre-season form:

D

Panathinaikos pre-season form:

WDLW

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Team News

Rangers boss Martin has a big decision to make between the sticks, and it appears that Liam Kelly could be given the nod over Jack Butland for the goalkeeping spot on Tuesday night.

Nasser Djiga is expected to be handed his debut following his arrival on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Kieran Dowell may start off the back of a strong spell on loan at Birmingham City.

Danilo is likely to be given the nod through the middle for Rangers, as Cyriel Dessers continues to be linked with a move away, but Rabbi Matondo will not be involved due to injury.

As for Panathinaikos, Chirivella, Georgios Kyriakopoulos, Ahmed Touba and Alban Lafont are all in line to make their debuts for the club following their summer arrivals.

Tete, Filip Djuricic and Fotis Ioannidis all enjoyed excellent 2024-25 seasons, scoring 11 times each, and the trio will also be in the starting side for the visitors here.

However, Georgios Kyriopoulos will not be available for selection due to an injury issue.

Rangers possible starting lineup:

Kelly; Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Jefte; Diomande, Raskin; Cortes, Dowell, Bajrami; Danilo

Panathinaikos possible starting lineup:

Lodygin; Vagiannidis, Touba, Jedvaj, Kyriakopoulos; Chirivella, Siopis; Tete, Djuricic, Gregou; Ioannidis

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We say: Rangers 2-1 Panathinaikos

 

This is a really tough match to call, as Panathinaikos are a classy outfit, and we are struggling to pick a winner over the two legs with any real confidence. That said, home advantage should allow Rangers to claim an advantage in the first leg of their European contest.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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