Scottish side Rangers aim to build on their first-leg advantage with a tough trip to Greece to face Panathinaikos, in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round two, seeking to progress to the next round. Ayomide Oguntimehin looks ahead to the July 30th clash at the Athens Olympic Stadium.
Panathinaikos vs Rangers Match Preview
Panathinaikos must overcome a two-goal deficit from the first leg to stand a chance of progressing to the next qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League season. The Greens had secured a return to Europe’s elite club competition after missing out last season, sealing a spot in the second qualifying rounds having finished second in the 2024-25 Greece Super League season behind champions Olympiacos. The Greek side featured in the UEFA Conference League last season, reaching the round of 16 before eventually suffering elimination at the hands of Fiorentina. They also have a formidable home record, losing only twice in their last eight European home matches, while they have never lost a home game against Rangers in Europe.
Rangers, meanwhile, also aim for a return to the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time since the 2022-23 season with victory over Panathinaikos. New manager Martin Russell led the Gers to a 2-0 win in his first European game in charge, and will be looking to progress to the next round with a decent result in Greece. The Scottish side have lost only two of their last six away trips in European competitions, to Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao last season. They also secured a valuable result in their last visit to Greece, drawing 1-1 with Olympiacos in last season’s UEFA Europa League group stages.
Panathinaikos vs Rangers Head to Head Record (Last Five Meetings)
- 22.07.2025 – Rangers 2-0 Panathinaikos
- 21.02.2008 – Panathinaikos 1-1 Rangers
- 13.02.2008 – Rangers 0-0 Panathinaikos
- 09.12.2003 – Rangers 1-3 Panathinaikos
- 01.10.2003 – Panathinaikos 1-1 Rangers
This fixture have been relatively balanced in recent meetings, with one win apiece and three draws in the last five encounters. Panathinaikos have never lost a home game against Rangers although they failed to keep a clean sheet in both matches.
Recent Form: Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos form in recent matches has been relatively inconsistent. The Greens have won just two of their last six matches, with three defeats and a draw. They conceded in four of these matches, highlighting their defensive troubles while they also failed to score in three of the six matches.
Recent Form: Rangers
Rangers have enjoyed a very impressive form in recent outings, with no defeats in their last six matches in all competitions. The Gers recorded three wins and three draws in this run, scoring multiple times in all six matches. The Scottish however conceded in four of these matches, failing to keep a clean sheet away from home.
Player to Watch: Cyriel Dessers (Rangers)
The Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers scored 29 times in all competitions last season and came on in the final 16 minutes of the first leg. His brilliant linkup play and constant runs into the box will be a major threat against the Greek side.
Best Betting Odds
- Away (Rangers) to Win or Draw – 2.03 (via 1xBet)
Prediction
With their recent form, Rangers’ attacking threat should be enough to secure a valuable result against Panathinaikos and book their spot in the next round of the competition.
