Rangers will look to make the most of their Ibrox fortress as they welcome Panathinaikos for the first leg of their Champions League second qualifying round clash on Tuesday night.
Russell Martin has already had a taste of the Ibrox atmosphere, guiding his side to a 2-2 friendly draw against Club Brugge. But this week marks a major milestone, the new manager's first official match at the helm of the Gers.
After finishing runners-up in the Scottish Premiership last season, Rangers earned their place in this stage of Europe's premier competition. Likewise, Panathinaikos booked their spot by securing second place in the Greek Super League. Now, both sides have their sights set on progressing, and Tuesday's showdown promises to be a key early test.
With a full house expected, this could be a cracker, and The Sporting News brings you all the best odds and tips ahead of this clash. Our football tipster, Abhinav Sharma, breaks down the latest betting for this one. Follow our tips below.
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Rangers vs. Panathinaikos predictions, tips, bet builder and odds for Champions League qualifier — Abhinav Sharma
All odds are correct at time of publish with firms listed. Click links to bet.
Rangers Win and Both Teams To Score (5/2, Paddy Power)
While the Gers are still early in their rebuild under Russell Martin, Ibrox has proven to be a tough European hunting ground in recent seasons, and they’ll hope to draw strength from the home crowd once again.
Panathinaikos, though not the powerhouse of old, are no strangers to finding the net. They were on the scoresheet in all 10 of their UEFA Conference League outings last season, and ended their domestic campaign scoring in 13 of their last 14 games in all competitions.
With Rangers having managed just two clean sheets in their last 18 competitive fixtures, the Greek visitors are well-positioned to grab at least one goal. But that might be where their joy ends.
Danilo to score at any time (9/5, Paddy Power)
Rangers strikers Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane are currently playing catch-up on the fitness front, making them unlikely starters for Tuesday’s clash. That could open the door for Danilo, the former Feyenoord forward who barely featured last season but has turned heads with some lively displays in pre-season. The Brazilian is priced at 9/5 to score with Paddy Power and might just lead the line at Ibrox.
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Rangers vs. Panathinaikos predicted lineups, team news
Rangers will head into their Champions League qualifier still hampered by a growing injury list, with long-term absentee Dujon Sterling joined on the sidelines by Ridvan Yilmaz and Rabbi Matondo, all three omitted from the European squad due to their ongoing fitness concerns.
Thelo Aasgaard is another potential casualty, having sustained a thigh strain during a closed-door friendly earlier in the week against Neil Lennon's Dunfermline Athletic, casting doubt over his availability.
A handful of others, Clinton Nsiala, Robin Propper, Jose Cifuentes, Ben Davies, and Ross McCausland, have also been left out of the UEFA squad, with the club having reportedly informed them they're free to explore moves elsewhere. While UEFA regulations allow up to two changes to the squad list before matchday, significant alterations appear unlikely.
- Rangers predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Butland (GK) — Tavernier, Aarons, King, Souttar — Rothwell, Dowell, Diomande — Cortes, Bajarmi, Danilo.
On the other side, Panathinaikos have been active in the summer market. Midfield orchestrator Pedro Chirivella is expected to play a key role in unlocking Rangers' defence with his eye for a killer pass.
However, the Greek outfit will be without winger Georgios Kyriakopoulos, who remains sidelined with a serious cruciate ligament injury.
- Panathinaikos predicted XI (4-3-3, right to left): Drągowski (GK) — Vagiannidis, Touba, Palmer-Brown, Max — Chirivella, Siopis, Maksimovic — Pellistri, Ioannidis, Tete.
Rangers vs. Panathinaikos predicted score and most likely results
Here’s some of the most likely results for this match-up, according to Paddy Power. Odds are correct at the time of publish.
| Result | Odds |
| Draw 1-1 | 6/1 |
| Panathinaikos 2-1 | 14/1 |
| Rangers 2-1 | 8/1 |
| Draw 2-2 | 14/1 |
| Rangers 1-0 | 7/1 |
| Panathinaikos 1-0 | 12/1 |
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How to watch Rangers vs. Panathinaikos in UCL qualifier
- Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
- Venue: Ibrox, Glasgow
- Time: 7:45 p.m. BST
- TV/Streaming: Premier Sports 1, Premier Sports Player
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