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Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Who will win Panathinaikos vs Rangers as our writers predict Champions League qualifying clash
The Light Blues head for a roasting hot Greece with a two-goal advantage as they bid to reach the third qualifying round Rangers head for the heat of Athens as they bid to keep their Champions League dream alive and kicking. Russell Martin got off to the perfect start last midweek with his troops dumping Panathinaikos 2-0 on home turf to head for Greece in a strong position. But the scoreline doesn't tell the whole story with the Greek giants denied on more than one occasion by the impressive Jack Butland. However, the important tally at the end of the day is the scoreline and with a two-goal advantage going into the return, the Light Blues will be looking to complete the job and advance to face one of Servette or Viktoria Plzen in the third qualifying round. Advancing past this stage also guarantees at minimum a parachute into the Europa League proper and moves the dream of joining Europe's elite at the top table one step closer. Record Sport's top team try and predict how the showdown will go and who will reach the next stage of qualifying. Scott McDermott The tie is by no means over but Russell Martin's side can do enough to go through. With Djeidi Gassama in line for a start, he'll pose a major threat on the counter attack and will be key to Gers scoring a vital goal. Their experience - albeit under different managers - of going away from home in Europe and getting a result in recent years will be crucial. Panathinaikos 1 Rangers 1 Avoiding losing the first goal is important but I also strongly fancy Rangers to score as they exploit gaps when Panathinaikos open up and that should be good enough to see them through. It won't be without scares but a score draw will ensure progress is as comfortable as fans could hope for. Panathinaikos 2 Rangers 2 Keith Jackson Rangers take a two goal lead into this second leg but there's no way of knowing whether it'll be enough, given that the Greeks could have been three up in the first half of the opening leg at Ibrox. On the flip side, Russell Martin's side could have killed this tie stone dead after the turn around. An early away goal in Athens might knock some of the stuffing out of Panathinaikos but it will probably be a long, nervous night either way. Panathinaikos 2 Rangers 1 Gavin Berry It's going to be hot, humid and a bit sticky at times for Russell Martin's men. A typically nervy away day Champions League qualifier. Think Famagusta in 1995 and 2005, Copenhagen in 2003 and Belgrade in 2007 - but the two-goal lead can see Rangers through. Panathinaikos 2 Rangers 1 Scott Burns I think Rangers will have enough with their 2-0 cushion from Ibrox. There might be a few scary moments but I think they will see it through. Panathinaikos 1 Rangers 1 Ross Pilcher They might have to ride it out a bit but that could suit Rangers with the way Russell Martin wants them to play. It will be hostile, but they've done the necessary in Europe against better teams than the Greeks without a two-goal cushion. Panathinaikos 1 Rangers 1
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Ian Durrant pinpoints the player Russell Martin must keep at Rangers
He and his fellow Light Blues greats John Brown and Lee McCulloch had lunch with the ex-Scotland internationalist after training at Auchenhowie at the weekend and they were all encouraged to hear his plans for the future. The Hall of Fame member, too, was impressed with [[Rangers]]' performance in their hard-fought 2-0 triumph over Panathinaikos in their Champions League second qualifying round match at Ibrox on Tuesday evening. Read more: However, Durrant feels it is imperative that Martin, who has signed no fewer than eight new players since being named as Philippe Clement's permanent replacement last month, retains the services of Raskin going forward. He was struck by how well the Belgium internationalist dovetailed with Joe Rothwell, the experience English midfielder who was signed from Bournemouth for £400,000 at the start of this month, against the Greek visitors and feels they can form a good partnership in the middle of the park during the 2025/26 campaign. Asked if it was important for the new manager not to lose prized asset Raskin, he said, 'Of course, he'll outline that. He wants his best players here, but sometimes money talks. I hope it doesn't, but that's the nature of the beast. 'But he'll want to keep him, because you can see he's wanting to get Raskin and Joe Rothwell together. The more they play, the better they'll get.' (Image: Steve Welsh - PA Wire) Durrant, who was speaking at a promotional event for the Rangers Youth Development Company's new Big Blue Jackpot at Ibrox, admitted that he had enjoyed chatting to Martin at the weekend and revealed what he, Brown and McCulloch had told the new manager. 'It was nice,' he said. 'I've been doing a wee bit of work with the club and they invited us over. He was just bouncing a few things off us, asking us what we think. We told him, 'You just need to win'. 'That's the be all and end all. Get the proper players, get your recruitment right. He was good. He spoke very well. He outlined the way he wants to go. So you've just got to go and back him. He's certainly got the backing of the club now with the new regime coming in. Read more: 'There will be tough games, especially the Champions League qualifiers. You've got the second leg now. Financially, that could do a lot for the club. It's come at an early time, but he's working every day. 'He spoke to us about the fitness levels of the team. It looked like the second half on Tuesday that he's worked them really hard. He had a great week down at St George's. He's got all his players back. 'He's hopefully got a couple more players now. Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers missed a fair chunk of pre-season. They're a wee bit behind, but they'll get game time on Saturday. 'He wants his team so fit. He said that the way he plays, it might take the last 10 to 15 minutes to break teams down, but the only way they're going to break them down is if they are fitter than the other teams.' Light Blues legend Ian Durrant was speaking as he promoted RYDC's Big Blue Jackpot, a new Rangers Lotto prize for supporters who can win guaranteed end-of-month jackpots of at least £12,000 and £15,000 from August. Full details at
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Joe Rothwell urges Rangers to kill off Panathinaikos tie
The 30-year-old midfielder, signed from Bournemouth this summer, made his Gers debut in the 2-0 win over the 10-man Greek side at Ibrox on Tuesday night. Russell Martin's men struggled for the most part before decisive goals from 19-year-old Findlay Curtis and debutant Djeidi Gassama, either side of Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis receiving his marching orders after picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on Curtis. Ahead of the second leg in Athens – which follows a friendly against Middlesbrough at Ibrox on Saturday – Rothwell was asked if the Light Blues can feel in command of the tie. 'I think we have to now, yeah,' he said. 'Obviously, 2-0, it's a good scoreline, especially in this format. 'So we'll go out there and obviously we won't be looking to defend it. We'll try and go out there and win the game and score as many goals as we can. 'It (2-0 win) can be huge. I think he (Martin) said in his press conference, it was not going to be a season-defining game but we wanted to go out there and put a show on and really show how he wants to do things. 'I think we managed to do that, controlled the game as we like to do and just a bit disappointed that we didn't go and probably kill the game off a little bit more.' The Light Blues should have been behind before Curtis opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, with Martin having to settle his new charges down at the interval before an improved performance in the second half. Rothwell said: 'He said to just stick to what we do. 'We went away from it a little bit, in terms of how we want to play, and in the first 10, 15 (minutes) I think we started the game really well and then probably came away from it a little bit. 'And then obviously with them going down to 10 men, we've managed to control the game and probably disappointed we didn't probably get a few more in the end, but we can't complain, it's a win and we take a lead over there.' Rothwell was impressed and inspired by his first taste of a European night at Ibrox. He said: 'Loved it. Obviously you hear stories from the outside, but when you actually get out there and experience it, it's fantastic and I'm sure the fans are going to be behind us in every single game and we'll need them. 'There'll be times where it might be a bit tough for us, but I'm sure they'll get behind us and then get us over the finish line. 'I think you can really see what the manager wants us to do and how we want to play and I thought it was obviously another good test for us and we came through it in the end.'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Owen Beck sees transfer triggered by two key Liverpool decisions as Rangers receive final answer
The Light Blues were linked to the former Dundee loanee - but his long and short-term future won't be in Govan Owen Beck was one of the names to feature on Rangers' summer revolution wishlist. And Liverpool have now signed off on TWO key decisions over the fate of the left-back. Arne Slot has shown the faith he has in the 22-year-old left-back by handing him a new long-term deal at the English Premier League champions before sanctioning a temporary move away for the season ahead. But that won't be at Ibrox, with the defender moving to Derby County to reunite with former boss John Eustace for the campaign ahead after playing under him during a stint at Blackburn Rovers. We told previously how Beck was wanted back north of the border after a successful loan stint at Dundee previously - but that move hinged on one condition. Ridvan Yilmaz was that key factor and he remains on the books as things stand under Russell Martin. He has been linked constantly with a return to his homeland - but as yet, nothing has materialised on that front for a player who has struggled largly with injuries in Glasgow. Celtic also previously targeted the defender but his future in the short and long-term has now been determined as he admitted a stint at Derby is a 'no-brainer' He explained: "Obviously, I know the gaffer well from last year. "I spoke to him with that experience of working with him before in mind. It moved pretty fast and was a no-brainer for me. We built a really good connection. I feel like he got the best out of me. "When he called up and we had that conversation again where he was looking to bring me in, it was a no-brainer, really! "I enjoyed playing under him. As I said, I feel like he got the best out of me. I feel like he can get even more out of me this season, and I can push that step further." On his targets for the season ahead, he added: "First and foremost, I want to play games. I want to play and stay injury-free. "In the game, I'm going to set myself personal goals. Also, I'm sure the gaffer will have goals that he wants the team to achieve. "Hopefully, I can hit my personal goals and help the team achieve theirs too."
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Joe Rothwell urges Rangers to kill off Panathinaikos tie
The 30-year-old midfielder, signed from Bournemouth this summer, made his Gers debut in the 2-0 win over the 10-man Greek side at Ibrox on Tuesday night. Russell Martin's men struggled for the most part before decisive goals from 19-year-old Findlay Curtis and debutant Djeidi Gassama, either side of Panathinaikos right-back Giorgos Vagiannidis receiving his marching orders after picking up the second of two yellow cards for a foul on Curtis. Ahead of the second leg in Athens – which follows a friendly against Middlesbrough at Ibrox on Saturday – Rothwell was asked if the Light Blues can feel in command of the tie. 'I think we have to now, yeah,' he said. 'Obviously, 2-0, it's a good scoreline, especially in this format. 'So we'll go out there and obviously we won't be looking to defend it. We'll try and go out there and win the game and score as many goals as we can. 'It (2-0 win) can be huge. I think he (Martin) said in his press conference, it was not going to be a season-defining game but we wanted to go out there and put a show on and really show how he wants to do things. 'I think we managed to do that, controlled the game as we like to do and just a bit disappointed that we didn't go and probably kill the game off a little bit more.' The Light Blues should have been behind before Curtis opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, with Martin having to settle his new charges down at the interval before an improved performance in the second half. Rothwell said: 'He said to just stick to what we do. 'We went away from it a little bit, in terms of how we want to play, and in the first 10, 15 (minutes) I think we started the game really well and then probably came away from it a little bit. 'And then obviously with them going down to 10 men, we've managed to control the game and probably disappointed we didn't probably get a few more in the end, but we can't complain, it's a win and we take a lead over there.' Rothwell was impressed and inspired by his first taste of a European night at Ibrox. He said: 'Loved it. Obviously you hear stories from the outside, but when you actually get out there and experience it, it's fantastic and I'm sure the fans are going to be behind us in every single game and we'll need them. 'There'll be times where it might be a bit tough for us, but I'm sure they'll get behind us and then get us over the finish line. 'I think you can really see what the manager wants us to do and how we want to play and I thought it was obviously another good test for us and we came through it in the end.'
