Panathinaikos deserved much more than what they got at Ibrox in their first official match of the new season against Rangers. The Greens were superior for most of the match, created clear chances, hit the post, but left Glasgow with a 2-0 defeat. Now, they face a major challenge in the return leg at OAKA on July 30 to advance to the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
After a patient opening five minutes, Panathinaikos took control and created the first big (double) chance. In the 9th minute, following Bakasetas’ free kick, Kyriakopoulos controlled the ball and sent a beautiful cross into the box. Djuricic latched onto it, shot, but Butland made a crucial save. On the rebound, Pellistri struck from close range, but the ball rattled the left post.
In the 10th minute, a Maksimovic header went wide, followed by a dangerous Pellistri run in the 12th that was stopped just in time. In the 18th minute, Palmer-Brown’s shot from inside the area was saved by Butland, while Bakasetas’ effort in the 24th was blocked by the Rangers’ defense.
Rangers threatened for the first time in the 36th minute with a long-range effort from Diomande, but Dragowski was ready and pushed it away for a corner. A greater threat followed in the 38th minute with a Danilo shot, but Maksimovic’s timely block was decisive.
The second half began with another huge chance for Panathinaikos. In the 50th minute, Bakasetas delivered a fine cross, Djuricic controlled well and fired a shot, but once again Butland made a crucial save. On the second attempt, Maksimovic’s powerful shot was deflected for a corner. The Greens threatened again in the 52nd with another shot from Djuricic, which was also saved by the Rangers’ keeper.
Instead of 0-1, it became 1-0. On the counterattack, the Scottish side moved quickly and scored with a shot from Curtits outside the area, which deflected off a leg and changed direction.
In the 58th minute, Panathinaikos’ task became even harder when Vagiannidis was sent off with a second yellow card in what seemed a harsh decision. The Greens had to play with ten men for over 35 minutes. Naturally, the game changed. Rangers took advantage of the situation and, after two great chances for Raskin in the 67th—both denied by Dragowski—they found the net again. In the 78th minute, Gassama scored with a precise shot from outside the box. Despite Panathinaikos’ efforts in the final minutes, they could not avoid the 2-0 defeat.
Rangers: Butland, Aarons, Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Rothwell (85’ Bajrami), Diomande, Raskin, Dowell (75’ Igamane), Curtits (75’ Gassama), Danilo (75’ Dessers)
Panathinaikos: Dragowski, Vagiannidis, Kyriakopoulos, Palmer-Brown, Toumba, Chirivella (84’ Siopis), Maksimovic, Bakasetas (61’ Kotsiras), Pellistri (84’ Tete), Djuricic (75’ Mancini), Ioannidis (75’ Swiderski)
