Panathinaikos vs Rangers preview: Team news, lineups, prediction
Rangers are preparing for another Champions League match, with the second leg against Panathinaikos approaching.
Russell Martin is no doubt aiming to progress into the third qualifying round of the competition.
Plenty is on the line for the fixture, with the Gers aspiring to reach the league stage.
As a result, Ibrox News has highlighted everything you need to know about the tie.
Panathinaikos vs Rangers preview
Rangers go into the second leg with a healthy advantage over the Greek side.
The Gers overcame Panathinaikos 2-0 at Ibrox on Tuesday, with Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama both finding the net.
Since then, Rangers continued their good form, earning a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on Saturday in their final pre-season friendly of the summer.
If the Gers were to get past Panathinaikos, they would face either Viktoria Plzen or Servette in the third qualifying round.
Form (all competitions)
Panathinaikos: WDLWL
Rangers: DWD
Team news
Rangers may be without Thelo Aasgaard, who has missed the Gers’ last two matches through injury.
Gassama may be given a start after the winger netted from the bench in his last two appearances.
For Panathinaikos, the Greek side are definitely without Georgios Vagiannidis, who was sent off at Ibrox.
Georgios Kyriopoulos will also miss the second leg through injury.
Predicted line-ups
Panathinaikos: Dragowski, Kotsiras, Touba, Jedvaj, Kyriakopoulos, Chirivella, Siopis, Tete, Djuricic, Pellistri, Ioannidis
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Aarons, Diomande, Rothwell, Raskin, Dowell, Igamane, Dessers
Prediction: Panathinaikos 0-0 Rangers
Given Rangers’ lead in the tie, Martin will not be worried about trying to get a goal in Greece.
Instead, the Scotsman may simply look to hold on to what he has and play a more defensive match against Panathinaikos.
After the Greek side’s failings at Ibrox in front of goal, it is plausible that this continues on Wednesday.
Therefore, a dull 0-0 draw is extremely likely. However, Martin and the Ibrox faithful will care little.
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