Rangers vs Panathinaikos Predictions

• Rangers will be eyeing a fresh start under new head coach Russell Martin
• The Gers have only lost one of their last five European home games
• Rangers knocked Panathinaikos out on their way to the 2008 UEFA Cup final

Martin hoping for fast start

After a trophyless 2024-25 campaign, Rangers have turned to Russell Martin to lead them into the new season and he has been thrown straight in at the deep end, as Tuesday’s clash at Ibrox will be his first competitive match in charge.

Martin will be buoyed by the Gers’ usually strong home record, as they have only lost one of their last five European matches in Glasgow, a sequence that includes wins over Union Saint-Gilloise and FCSB and draws with Tottenham and Athletic Club.

That will give Martin and his troops confidence ahead of this crucial first leg, as will the knowledge that Rangers, albeit via away goals, saw off Panathinaikos en route to reaching the UEFA Cup final in 2008.

Greeks can trouble the scoresheet

Panathinaikos are not quite the European force they once were but they can keep things competitive at Ibrox, particularly in an attacking sense, as they scored in all 10 of their matches in last season’s Conference League.

The Greeks also ended 2023-24 by scoring in 13 of their final 14 matches across all competitions, and against a Rangers side that have kept only two clean-sheets in their last 18 competitive games, they can easily get on the scoresheet again.

That might be as good as it gets for Rui Vitoria’s side on the night, however, with Rangers fancied to pick up a narrow success, bringing the 2-1 home win into play.