Kamikaze football survives in the heat of Athens... but Martin's men can't keep giving away so many chances

Daily Mail​

30-07-2025

Well, if nothing else, Rangers are certainly an entertaining watch under Russell Martin. Terrifying, yes. But entertaining.
Robust defensive resolve — the kind which has underpinned so much of the club's success on the continent in recent years — has been chucked aside within weeks in favour of kamikaze football.
But, for the second time in eight days, Martin's side were ultimately rewarded for all that risk.
Just like he did at Ibrox, Djeidi Gassama once again came off the bench to make the difference.
The scoreline could — and should — have been very different by the time the former Sheffield Wednesday wide man entered the fray.
Until then, it was a carbon copy of last week's meeting. Rangers messing about with the ball at the back. Panathinaikos messing up every opportunity which came their way.
James Tavernier, Nasser Djiga and Max Aarons all took turns at putting it on a plate. All, somehow, got away with it.
Martin's stamp on the side is clear for all to see. Well, at least those who could bare to look. But good grief, some of these players are a million miles away from being able to implement this new style.
Motherwell will fancy their chances at Fir Park on Saturday. They surely won't be as profligate as the Greeks were here.
Even when they did take the lead through Filip Duricic, the finish was dreadful, albeit enough to beat a slightly bamboozled and hopelessly exposed Jack Butland.
It wasn't much better at the other end. Danilo had a pop 25 seconds in, but that was pretty much his lot for the night. For all his work off the ball, the Brazilian saw little of it.
Last week's hero Findlay Curtis barely got a sniff either. It was no surprise to see him hooked for Gassama shortly before the hour. The 21-year-old's introduction proved to be the spark his side needed.
Credit where it's due to his colleagues as well. The overall display from back to front in the last third of the game was much improved as they demonstrated the composure and authority to see out the tie in relative comfort.
Job done.