Rangers travel to Athens looking to protect a 2-0 first-leg lead against Panathinaikos in this Champions League qualifier second leg. The Greek side faces a daunting task to overturn the two-goal deficit in front of their home fans. Rangers’ new boss Russell Martin enjoyed a winning start in Glasgow, but he knows his team “still has work to do” in a hostile away leg to secure progression. The winners of this tie will advance to the third qualifying round (to face Servette or Viktoria Plzeň) while the losers drop into Europa League qualifying.

Form & Route to the Second Leg

Panathinaikos: The Athenians warmed up for Europe with a mixed preseason, recording two wins, two losses and a draw in July friendlies. They defeated Metalist 3-0 and Westerlo 3-1, but fell to Braga and Nordsjælland, showing inconsistency in attack. Last week’s 0-2 defeat at Ibrox was Panathinaikos’ first competitive match of 2025/26, leaving them winless in their last three games (D1 L2). On the domestic front, To Trifýlli (the Shamrock) finished 2nd in Greece last season, and they’ll hope home support sparks a comeback. Forward Fotis Ioannidis is a key threat – he scored in four of Panathinaikos’ final six European games last season.

Rangers: The Glasgow side are unbeaten in their last six matches across friendlies and competitive action. In July friendlies they drew 2-2 with both Club Brugge and Middlesbrough and beat Dunfermline 4-1, sharpening up ahead of the new season. Martin’s men showed resilience in the first leg, riding out a shaky first half before emerging 2-0 victors. Rangers have scored in every match of this unbeaten run, with 19-year-old Findlay Curtis a breakout star – the academy winger netted in friendlies against Club Brugge and Boro, and curled in a stunning goal in the first leg. Confidence is high as the Light Blues aim to return to the Champions League proper after last season’s domestic runner-up finish.

Probable XIs and Team News

Panathinaikos (4-2-3-1): Dragowski; Jedvaj, Palmer-Brown, Touba, Kyriakopoulos; Chirivella, Maksimović; Pellistri, Djuricić, Bakasetas; Ioannidis. Unavailable: Georgios Vagiannidis (suspended). The hosts must replace their first-leg right-back after his red card, likely bringing in Giannis Kotsiras or shuffling Tin Jedvaj across the defense. New signing Bartłomiej Dragowski should continue in goal, while creative midfielder Aster Vranckx (if fit) and forward Karol Świderski are options off the bench.

Rangers (4-3-3): Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Djiga, Aarons; Raskin, Diomande, Rothwell; Curtis, Gassama, Dessers. Unavailable/Doubtful: Hamza Igamane (knock), Thelo Aasgaard (knock). Centre-back Connor Goldson remains out injured, so on-loan defender Nasser Djiga partners John Souttar. Max Aarons could fill in at left-back with Ridvan Yılmaz not 100%. In attack, Russell Martin has a selection dilemma up front – Cyriel Dessers is vying with Danilo for the striker role, while last week’s goal-scorers Curtis and Djeidi Gassama are set to start after impressing in the first leg.

Tactical Keys

Panathinaikos are expected to come out flying, urged on by a passionate home crowd in the 65,000-seat Olympic Stadium. Manager Rui Vitória will likely adopt an attacking 4-2-3-1 shape, pushing his full-backs high and deploying creative midfielders (Bakasetas, Djuricić) between the lines. The Greeks managed six corner kicks in Glasgow despite playing the final half-hour with 10 men, illustrating their intent to press Rangers back. Look for holding midfielder Pedro Chirivella to dictate Panathinaikos’ tempo, while target man Fotis Ioannidis will be the focal point up front. Ioannidis’ aerial ability and physicality could trouble Rangers’ centre-halves, and he is the hosts’ likeliest source of a goal (the 23-year-old is 6/4 to score anytime).

Rangers, meanwhile, will be content to manage the game with a compact shape and hit on the counter. Russell Martin’s side might cede possession at times (they had only 25% of the ball in the first leg) but remain dangerous when breaking forward. With Nicolas Raskin anchoring midfield, Joe Rothwell and Mohamed Diomande will work to disrupt Panathinaikos’ playmakers and spring quick transitions. The pace of Djeidi Gassama and the direct running of Findlay Curtis out wide offer the Scots a potent counter-attacking outlet. Rangers’ captain James Tavernier will also be key with his experience and set-piece threat. Don’t be surprised if the visitors adopt a slightly cautious approach early, absorbing pressure and looking to silence the crowd. Crucially, goalkeeper Jack Butland may need to replicate his first-leg heroics – he made three or four vital saves in the opening half at Ibrox. If Rangers weather the initial storm, gaps should open up for them to exploit on the break. With a two-goal cushion, the onus is on Panathinaikos to take risks, and that could play into the Gers’ hands if they remain disciplined.

Latest Odds & Implied Probabilities

Market	Odds (Decimal)	Implied Probability
Panathinaikos to Win	1.70 (7/10)	59%
Draw	3.80 (14/5)	26%
Rangers to Win	4.00 (3/1)	25%
Over 2.5 Goals	1.80 (4/5)	56%
Under 2.5 Goals	2.00 (Evens)	50%
Both Teams to Score – Yes	1.67 (4/6)	60%
Both Teams to Score – No	2.10 (11/10)	48%

Betting Tips

Both Teams to Score – Yes 🔥 – Odds: 4/6 (1.67)
Over 2.5 Total Goals – Odds: 4/5 (1.80)
Match Draw – Odds: 14/5 (3.80)
Findlay Curtis to Score Anytime – Odds: 9/2 (5.5)

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How to Watch & Key Info

Live Broadcast (UK): BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer
Live Stream (International): Rangers TV or UEFA partner channels
Stadium: Olympic Stadium, Athens
Weather: 27°C, clear skies

Panathinaikos vs Rangers — Champions League Qualifying Second Leg Preview

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