Panathinaikos 1 – 1 Rangers

Djeidi Gassama is shortly successful a spot within the hearts of Rangers followers, coming off the bench to attain towards Panathinaikos because the Scottish aspect progressed in Champions League qualifying.

Russell Martin’s group took a 2-0 result in Athens, however have been removed from comfy within the searing warmth because the hosts piled on the stress.

Gers goalkeeper Jack Butland was as soon as once more the early hero as he produced a string of first-half saves within the Olympic Stadium to rescue his struggling defence.

There was a protracted VAR test earlier than Filip Duricic’s header gave Panathinaikos a deserved lead within the second half.

However summer season signing Gassama made his mark simply as he did within the first leg, firing within the equaliser lower than a minute after changing Findlay Curtis after to revive their two-goal cushion.

Rangers, 3-1 victors on combination, will face Servette or Viktoria Plzen within the third qualifying spherical, with the primary leg at Ibrox on August 5/6.

Gassama settles nerves as Rangers extra nearer to Champions League qualification

Rangers needed to face up to some early stress because the hosts regarded to get themselves again into the tie with a string of assaults.

Tasos Bakasetas fired simply huge of the submit throughout the first 5 minutes earlier than Facundo Pellistri pressured a vital cease from Butland.

The previous Engald goalkeeper was pressured into motion once more earlier than the break when he turned a close-range header from Fotis Ioannidis behind.

Panathinaikos continued to dominate and Pellistri ought to have scored halfway by the primary half when Duricic took benefit of some slack defending, however he did not get his shot heading in the right direction.

Rangers struggled to get out their very own half, though Nico Raskin did come shut towards the run of play when he headed a Joe Rothwell cross over the bar.

The house aspect broke the impasse 10 minutes after the restart when Duricic headed previous Butland to make it 1-0 on the night time and cut back the deficit.

The aim was initially dominated out for offside, however awarded after a prolonged VAR test discovered the Serbian to be onside.

Nevertheless, Rangers restored their two-goal lead nearly immediately when Gassama fired a volley previous the Panathinaikos goalkeeper together with his first contact and assure at the least Europa League soccer till Christmas.

Martin: We’ll develop from this

Rangers head coach Russell Martin chatting with BBC Scotland:

“I’ve simply stated to the gamers within the dressing room, I am so pleased with them.

“To be 5 weeks into the method, from the place they have been to the place they’re is unimaginable.

“It is by no means simple away from dwelling. A very troublesome place to come back. They actually dug in and that is going to be vital for us. Huge John [Souttar] and Nasser [Djiga] have been incredible. Jack Butland’s been sensible over the 2 video games; we have to depend on him much less.

“We spoke in regards to the significance of the subs earlier than the sport and so they did nice.

“It is no imply feat. We have certified for the Europa League and now we will actually assault the Champions League.

“We’ll get higher. The group will develop a lot from this.”

Boyd: Rangers rode their luck however Martin will not care

Kris Boyd was watching the sport for Sky Sports activities Information:

“I assumed within the first half there have been similarities to the sport in Glasgow, however Russell Martin will not actually care.

“I do know he is spoken about how he needs perfection, he needs his group to enhance sport after sport. I believe a very powerful factor if you get to this stage is discovering a method to get by. Rangers have performed that.

“Sure, they rode their luck at instances. Jack Butland had some large saves within the first leg and he had one other few tonight.

“It is an enormous outcome for Russell Martin and Rangers over the tie to undergo, as a result of if Rangers had misplaced there have been lots of people asking questions of Russell Martin and the best way that they need to play as a result of he’d given up so many alternatives over each legs.

“However they discovered a method to get by and that is all that issues for Rangers proper now.

“This group has acquired a protracted, lengthy method to go, even to most likely get to that degree of the final [Rangers] group to play the Champions League.

“Some thrilling gamers have arrived at Rangers, however Russell Martin is not foolish and he’ll know that there is quite a lot of work to be performed.

“They’ll fancy their possibilities of going by that subsequent qualifier, however they are going to must tighten up defensively.

“Panathinaikos have been asking query after query of Rangers defensively. They’ve stood as much as it tonight, however the additional on you go in this kind of match you’d think about the ahead traces will get higher from the opposition.”

Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from next season

From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will enhance from 128 matches to at the least 215 video games completely stay.

And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.