Panathinaikos present toughest start for Martin

Panathinaikos are seeking a return to the Champions League proper after 15 years

Champions League qualifying: Rangers v Panathinaikos

Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow Date: Tuesday, 22 July Time: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app

Sixty-six days after they concluded an uninspiring, at times listless, season, Rangers face one of the most important games they will take on in the new campaign as soon as the starting gun is fired.

Handed the worst possible draw in the second qualifying round for Europe's premier club competition, an arduous and dangerous path towards the Champions League lies ahead for new head coach Russell Martin.

Paired with Greek Super League runners-up Panathinaikos, it couldn't have been much tougher and the question is are Rangers ready for this trepidatious journey?

If you include the now contracted Oscar Cortes, the club has made eight new signings for the season ahead.

Unfortunately for Martin, one of them, Norway international Thelo Aasgaard, will miss the first leg at Ibrox on Tuesday evening while the most recent of the arrivals, Djeidi Gassama, is not ready to start.

The fact is that his new team-mates have to be ready to start and rarely has the club's motto been more pertinent.

The riches and prestige that the Champions League brings has always focused minds and it is something that their city rivals Celtic have secured in each of the past three seasons, although such is the state of Scotland's coefficient, even Brendan Rodgers' side have to qualify this time, albeit two rounds later.

The new format of the tournament appears kinder to Scottish hopes of progression, as demonstrated in Glasgow's east end last term. The prize is there for both.

Rangers also know who they will face if they can get past Rui Vitoria's side with former foes Servette and Czechs Viktoria Plzen lying in wait and, given the tougher task of Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk awaiting as part of their Europa League insurance policy, there is even more motivation for negotiating this one.

Victory would also guarantee at least Europa League football until January.

What is a big Rangers squad will require further surgery but Martin has had to scramble together a team that he'll hope can get them past a Panathinaikos that was as far behind Super League winners Olympiacos as Rangers were Celtic.

The Rangers fans have caught sight of their team once this pre-season in a 2-2 draw with Club Brugge and just one of Martin's new signings started, on-loan full-back Max Aarons.

They have had some bounce games as well - but will it prove to be enough to get up to full readiness and breed the new players into a squad that was desperately in need of a rebuild?

Vitoria has 'ambition and belief'

They don't need long memories for inspiration that they can get over this hurdle having produced a Europa League draw in Pireaus against eventual Greek champions Olympiacos last November.

Portuguese coach Vitoria has made minimal changes to his squad from last season and remains hopeful of coercing Morocco international midfielder Azzedine Ounahi back to Athens after a fruitful season on loan from Marseille last term, although Spaniards Girona have also been keen on one of the North African nation's 2022 World Cup stars.

Panathinaikos made the last 16 of the Conference League in season 2024-25, losing out to Fiorentina, but the 1971 runners-up haven't competed in the Champions League proper for 15 years. It is something they are desperate to rectify as they rounded off their pre-season with a 3-1 win over Belgians Westerlo in Athens' Olympic Stadium, where they will host Rangers next Wednesday.

"These matches are always different from the official ones," midfielder Adam Cerin said after that game.

"Things are not easy but we showed that we are in good shape. There are factors like the atmosphere at Ibrox. We prepared well and we will give everything.

"We will give our best for a result there so that we can come to Athens with a positive result."

Coach Vitoria is confident that they can edge past their Scottish hosts over the two legs, saying: "We have ambition, quality and we want to qualify against Rangers.

"Rangers, they are a strong team, they have a history in Europe and especially in the Champions League, but we have our own chances. We have ambition and belief in our abilities, we have quality, we believe in ourselves and we want to qualify."

With temperatures in Athens due to hit 41 degrees this week, Martin will know the importance of taking an advantage to the ancient city for next week's return, ready or not.