Rangers vs Panathinaikos: UEFA Champions League Prediction (23.07.2025)

On Tuesday, July 23 at 01:45 WIB, Rangers will host Panathinaikos at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League 2025–2026 qualifying round matchup. The Scottish side enters this stage as runners-up of the Scottish Premiership, while the visitors finished second in the Greek Super League.

In the Rangers vs Panathinaikos pairing, bookmakers give a clear advantage to the Scottish team. A bet on the “Light Blues” to win the first match is priced at 1.87, while their odds to advance to the next qualification stage are 1.73. For the “Greens,” the respective odds are 4.05 and 2.10. A moderately high-scoring match is expected: over 2.5 total goals is priced at 1.78, and both teams to score is at 1.69.

Rangers

In June, Russell Martin was appointed head coach. He had previously managed Swansea and Southampton in England. How successful this decision will prove to be will largely depend on this early and serious test — a two-legged clash against one of Greece’s top clubs. One notable signing was the acquisition of young Norwegian midfielder Telo Osgor from Luton Town.

During the off-season, the new coaching staff opted for a light schedule of friendlies. In early July, the “Gers” played a high-scoring 2-2 draw against a strong opponent — Belgian side Club Brugge.

Panathinaikos

Rui Vitória’s team did not make any major transfers this summer either, but unlike their Scottish opponents, they were active in scheduling friendlies. In just the first half of July, the “Shamrocks” played five friendlies, with notable opponents including German side Schalke and Portugal’s Braga.

Last season, the Greek club reached the Round of 16 in the UEFA Conference League, where they narrowly lost to Italian side Fiorentina with an aggregate score of 4-5. Fans are hoping to see their team compete in a more prestigious European competition, but reaching the main stage of the Champions League will be a tall order.

Stats and Head-to-Head Record

These teams last met in European competitions back in 2003 and 2008. Three of their matches ended in draws, while Panathinaikos won one.

Prediction

The Scottish side is currently competing at a higher level, having reached the quarterfinals of the Europa League last season. For the first leg, we’ll back the favorite: a Rangers win at 1.87.