Rangers

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Panathinaikos have never lost to Scottish opponents in seven matches, although - after beating Aberdeen in the group stage - it was Rangers who progressed in the 2008 Europa League round of 32 on away goals after a 1-1 drawgoalless game at Ibrox was followed by a 1-1 draw in Athens.

Five years earlier, they also drew 1-1 in Athens but won 3-1 at Ibrox in the Champions League group stage, while their most recent meeting with a Scottish club in qualifying was a 5-0 defeat of Motherwell in 2011.

Portuguese head coach Rui Vitoria, appointed in October, won seven trophies with Benfica, led Al-Nassr to the 2020 African Champions League semi-finals, while Spartak Moscow won their Europa League group ahead of Leiceister City and Napoli while he was in charge.

Former Liverpool youth midfielder Pedro Chirivella, the Spaniard signed from Nantes, is one of three summer purchases along with left-back Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, who left Monza after their relegation from Serie A.

Midfielder Manolis Siopis, signed from Cardiff City in January, is another of their five Greece internationals, while they have nine others capped for their countries.

Among them are Uruguay winger Facundo Pellistri, who played a handful of games during four years with Manchester United, one time Southampton loanee midfielder Filip Duricic and United States centre-back Erik Palmer-Brown, once of Manchester City.

Whether Rangers, in the early stages of rebuilding under new head coach Russell Martin, beat the Greeks to progress to the Champions League third qualifying round or drop to its Europa League equivalent, teams with similar recent European pedigree await.

In the top tournament, it is Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic or Servette of Switzerland, while Besiktas of Turkey or Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine are arguably more formidable opponents in the Europa equivalent.

Even if Rangers do reach the Champions League play-offs, Benfica, Brann, Club Brugge, Nice, or Salzburg will still need to be overcome.

Read the full European round up

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Panathinaikos boss Rui Vitoria insists his side are ready for Ibrox on Tuesday night, despite a scant knowledge of Rangers.

The Greek side arrived in Glasgow for the first leg of the Champions League second round qualifier with the return leg taking place in Athens next week.

Tuesday's match will be Russell Martin's first competitive game in charge of the Glasgow club and also the first time he's managed in a European tie.

The new boss will have the option of seven new recruits and opposition manager Vitoria admits it's been difficult to prepare with the lack of information on Martin's side.

"Yes, it has been a challenge for me because I didn't see almost any games," the Panathinaikos boss said.

"They have only played one friendly match against [Club] Brugge, which was open. The rest were closed so it was very difficult for us to have a lot of information, so this makes our job and my job as a trainer a bit more difficult.

"But we are ready, we are ready.

"Of course, we don't know the other team as normal, but I don't cry because of that.

"I go and face the opponent and let's go and let's fight and put everything on the pitch.

"He's a new coach and new ideas, so of course, it will be different football than previously here.

"We tried to catch the information that we need, but, of course, we are in the beginning of the season. We don't know the details of the other team. Maybe the coach from Rangers has more information about us than us about them.

"It will be the first time I'll play against a team from Scotland. Of course it's a football I appreciate and I appreciate the evolution the football has had in the last years with the good ideas.

"The atmosphere is always fantastic and the fans want to be on the pitch.

"But when we go to the pitch we only focus on the first 11 of the team."

Lille have been scared off by Rangers' £15m price tag for Hamza Igamane, but Feyenoord are considering shattering their own transfer record for the 22-year-old forward while Rennes are ready to come to the table too. (Daily Record), external

Rennes could turn to Hamza Igamane as a replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi, the former Celtic striker sold to Birmingham City, after Lille agreed terms with the Rangers forward but made no official bid. (Scottish Sun), external

Lille are still negotiating a fee for Hamza Igamane after agreeing personal terms with the forward, but Rangers want £20m and Everton, Rennes, Feyenoord, Udinese and Borussia Monchengladbach have now entered the race. (Kora Maroc), external

Hamza Igamane's transfer from Rangers to Lille is almost complete with just final details over a medical and contract to be sorted - and with the forward keen on the move. (Moroccan Grinta), external

Rangers have pulled out of a deal to sign Owen Beck after the Glasgow club wanted to pay a fee of £7m including add-ons for the 22-year-old left-back while Liverpool were holding out for a deal closer to £10m and he is now in talks to sign for Derby County on loan. (Daveockop), external

Derby County have agreed a deal to sign Liverpool left-back Owen Beck on loan for the season and the Wales Under-21 international is expected to undergo a medical later this week. (John Percy on X), external

Aris Limassol have approached Rangers over a loan deal for Ross McCausland, with Basel, Leuven and Cincinnati having also expressed an interest in the 22-year-old winger this summer. (Sky Sports), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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There may have been changes at Rangers this summer but one constant during the close season and indeed each of the past 10 years has been James Tavernier.

The Rangers captain has retained the armband under new head coach Russell Martin and addressed the media before Tuesday's season-opening Champions League second qualifying round first leg at home to Panathinaikos.

The Ibrox side and the Greek outfit are competing to face either Viktoria Plzen or Servette in the next round. Defeat would mean a Europa League third qualifying round meeting with Besiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk.

"Obviously, our objective is to get the win. It's a fresh start for the club," Tavernier said.

"We're already excited to get behind it. It's a new season and we obviously want to push ourselves to the very end.

"[Tuesday] night's the most important game of our season so far. It's our first game. We've got to take really take real advantage of being at Ibrox with our fans and try to take a good result going over to play in the second leg. We know it's going to be a hot one over there in the second leg.

"They're going to be a tough test. It's the first competitive have of our season. From the very first whistle, we need to put our stamp on the game. You have to set a tone, you have to set a tone in every single game."

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Russell Martin believes Rangers will "take some stopping" if they can create synergy between players and supporters.

On the eve of his first game in charge as head coach - against Panathinaikos in the second round of Champions League qualifying - Martin stressed the need to make fans "excited" in the first game of the season.

"Every day I wake up and I'm honoured to be in this position," the former Ibrox defender said. "I feel extremely grateful for it. I'm excited by it and I will give it absolutely everything I've got. We all will.

"That's what this club, the people, the supporters demand - those who will outstay all of us. I just want to put a team on the pitch that they are proud of.

"It has to start (on Tuesday). They have to see something to be excited about and we do too. The players have to feel something it and it's an amazing opportunity and game to do that.

"What we've seen in training has been amazing. They've come with fresh energy, willingness and openness to new ideas, demands - to maybe different rules to what they've had before - and they've been great the way they've embraced it.

"Now the biggest challenge is for them to do it in front of 50,000 people with a game that means so much to so many people. For any football player, that's the biggest test.

"One thing that has to come out is that the supporters leave feeling positively about their team, their new-look team, the way it's going to start to shape up.

"I hope that the fans will leave feeling excited about what's to come and there will start being a real connection, because I think if we can be connected - the whole club, Ibrox, the supporters - if this club has that, with that energy, I think it's going to take some stopping. I think it's really powerful.

"We have to all believe in something and that will be how much the players are willing to win, the hunger, the character, the desire to show and I'm confident that we'll see that."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Head coach Russell Martin had been talking to the media before the first leg of Rangers' Champions League second round qualifying tie with Panathinaikos.

Here are some of the key things he said:

• Martin is looking forward to a night of "learning" at Ibrox as he sees his side in a competitive match for the first time.

• He stressed it's not a season-defining game and Rangers "will be defined by what we do between now and May".

• He did concede, though, that "it's a big game" and "a huge part in setting the tone" for the season.

• The head coach is expecting a "tough challenge" from the Greek side. "They have some real strengths, but so do we."

• In looking for a positive result, Martin says the fans "have to leave feeling positive about their team, their new look and the way it is going to start to shape up".

• The head coach confirmed Dessers, Igamane and Gassama are not fit enough to play 90 minutes, but will feature. Aasgaard is not fit.

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Rangers face seasoned European campaigners if they are to reach the play-off stage of either the Champions League or Europa League following Monday's latest draws.

Russell Martin's side will face Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic or Servette of Switzerland in the Champions League third qualifying round should they defeat Panathinaikos.

Like Rangers, both Plzen and Servette finished distant runners-up in their domestic leagues last season - Plzen to Slavia Prague and Servette to Basel.

Plzen finished 16th in the Europa League last season - eight places behind Rangers - before losing to Lazio in the last 16.

However, they defeated Hearts to reach the new league stage, winning both legs of their play-off round tie 1-0.

The previous season, Viktoria reached the Conference League quarter finals, losing to Fiorentina.

They last reached the Champions League three seasons ago, losing all their games in a group containing, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

Rangers defeated Servette at the same third qualifying round stage of the Europa League in 2023, 3-2 on aggregate.

They were beaten by Braga in Europa League qualifying last season before losing narrowly to eventual winners Chelsea in the Conference League play-off round.

The third round fixtures take place on 5/6 August and 12 August.

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If Martin's side lose to the Greeks, they face an equally difficult tie in the Europa League third qualifying round after they were drawn against either Beskitas of Turkey or Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas were fourth in the Turkish Super Lig last season and finished a disappointing 28th in the Europa League.

Shakhtar, who have suffered by being homeless in recent seasons due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, were 27th in the Champions League last season and have already had to come through one round of Europa League qualifying - beating Ilves of Finland 6-0 on aggregate.

The Europa League third qualifying round games take place on August 7 and August 14.

Rangers fans, how do you feel about the draw? Give us your thoughts here.

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Rangers and Hibernian could both face Basiktas or Shakhtar Donetsk in European qualifying after Uefa tweaked the groupings for Monday's third qualifying round draws in its three competitions.

The draws come before Rangers, Hibs and Dundee United play the first legs of their second qualifying round ties this week.

There is no change to Rangers' potential opponents in the Champions League should they defeat Panathinaikos - Fenerbahce of Turkey, Nice of France, the winners of Brann (Norway) against Salzburg (Austria), or the winners of Viktoria Plzeň (Czech Republic) against Servette (Switzerland).

Should Rangers lose to the Greeks, they will be unseeded in the Europa League draw and will face the winners of Beşiktas (Turkey) against Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Anderlecht (Belgium) against Häcken (Sweden), or Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) against Utrecht (Netherlands).

Aris Limassol, who already have former Ibrox teammates Connor Goldson and Leon Balogun on their books, are keen on Rangers winger Ross McCausland, but the 22-year-old Northern Ireland international also has interest from two Major League Soccer clubs and England. (Scott Burns on X), external

Rangers have been told by Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Zarko Lazetic it would take a "fairytale offer" of more than £4m to sign 21-year-old forward Dor Turgeman this summer. (Sport1), external

Twente technical director Jan Streuer says 31-year-old former captain Robin Propper wanted to wait to see if he plays more under new Rangers head coach Russell Martin before committing to a return to the Dutch club, who have to decide whether they can afford to wait or look at other central defence targets. (Volkskrant), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Can Rangers strikers Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane play together?

Russell Martin believes so, with the Ibrox head coach aiming to work out how the duo can feature in the same team.

Dessers and Igamane, who have both been linked with moves away this summer, have had disrupted pre-seasons.

Nigeria forward Dessers has had an injury problem, while there have been visa issues for Moroccan Igamane.

Martin is now delighted to have the pair included in training with Tuesday's Champions League second-round qualifier first leg against Panathinaikos fast approaching.

The duo are included in Martin's squad for that game, but it remains to be seen whether either of them will be fit to start the match at Ibrox.

"They are both a little bit behind in terms of fitness," the Rangers boss said.

"But both are working incredibly hard to get there. I've been enjoying having them on the training pitch properly for a week now."

Speaking to Rangers TV, Martin added: "They are both going to be ready to help us, which is really important. We need talent at the top end and goals in the team and both definitely bring that.

"We're going to try and work out ways for them to play together at times. It might be one, it might be both, and it's up to us to work out what they can do and what they're comfortable doing."

With Lille struggling in their negotiations with Rangers, Feyenoord have entered the race to sign forward Hamza Igamane, while Everton and Udinese have also made enquiries. (Sacha Tavolieri on X), external

Aris Limassol and two Major League Soccer teams in the US are keen on Rangers and Northern Ireland winger Ross McCausland. (Daily Record), external

Three Belgian clubs including Anderlecht, are interested in Rangers defender Clinton Nsiala. (The Herald, external - subscription required)

Rumoured Rangers target Conor Coady, 32, started the first game of Leicester City's pre-season training camp in Austria. (Daily Record), external

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Summer signing Thelo Aasgaard is "touch and go" to feature in the first leg of Rangers' Champions League qualifier with Panathinaikos, says head coach Russell Martin.

The Ibrox boss says the Norway midfielder, who joined from Luton this summer, "has been incredible" since making the move to Govan.

However, the 23-year-old has "picked up a little something" during Rangers' pre-season preparations and is now a major doubt for Tuesday's match at Ibrox.

"It's disappointing for him and for us," Martin told Rangers TV.

"He has been everything we thought we were getting and more. Since he has been in he has been incredible.

"His understanding, his athleticism, the power he has, the technical capability, he really is an exciting player for us.

"Unfortunately, it is a different level of intensity and it has been high demands in pre-season.

"He has picked up a little something so he is going to be touch and go.

"We hope he can be involved, but if not then we are really hopeful he will be ready and raring to go for the second one."

Martin also revealed fellow summer recruit Djeidi Gassama is "a little bit behind in terms of fitness" and the winger will not be ready to start on Tuesday.

"Not too much, too soon," the Rangers boss added. "He is not ready to start the game, but he is totally different to anything we have got.

"He is unpredictable, he is a fantastic one-v-one specialist. He has real individual talent and I think, well we are convinced, within our framework and team structure, he can really stand out and create moments for us that will really be brilliant.

"He will be in the squad, he will definitely be ready for the second game, but the first game we might have to manage his minutes and expectations."

Rangers have rejected Besiktas' initial offer of £6.5m for midfielder Mohamed Diomande, with negotiations "ongoing". (Aspor, external - in Turkish)

Free agent Luuk de Jong, the 34-year-old forward who has been linked with Rangers, is no longer listed as PSV Eindhoven's number nine. (Daily Record), external

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Ridvan Yilmaz is among the players omitted from Rangers' squad for their Champions League second-round qualifier with Panathinaikos.

Russell Martin's side host the Greek outfit next Tuesday before travelling to Athens on 30 July for the second leg, which will be shown live by BBC Scotland.

Left-back Yilmaz, 24, will not feature amid reports the Turkey international is open to a return to his homeland.

Fellow defender Robin Propper - who Martin confirmed the club have accepted an offer from Twente for - is also not included, nor is Ben Davies, who spent last season on loan at Birmingham City, and long-term injury casualty Dujon Sterling.

Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland also miss out, but strikers Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane are named amid uncertainty over their Ibrox futures.

All seven summer signings are included in the 25-man squad, including Thelo Aasgaard who could be a fitness doubt after suffering a knock in a closed-door friendly against Dunfermline this week.

Youngsters Bailey Rice and Findlay Curtis, who have impressed in pre-season, feature on the B-list.

The club can make two changes to the squad up to 22:00 BST on Monday.

Rangers squad for Panathinaikos tie

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Liam Kelly, Kieran Wright.

Defenders: Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Leon King, John Souttar, James Tavernier, Jefte.

Midfielders: Thelo Aasgaard, Nedim Bajrami, Connor Barron, Lyall Cameron, Oscar Cortes, Mohamed Diomande, Kieran Dowell, Robbie Fraser, Djiedi Gassama, Nico Raskin, Joe Rothwell.

Forwards: Cyriel Dessers, Josh Gentles, Hamza Igamane, Danilo.

Rangers' Nicolas Raskin is one of several players Real Betis have on their radar as they prepare for the midfield departures of Cardoso and William Carvalho. (Mucho Deporte, external - in Spanish)

Romania legend Gheorghe Hagi has categorically ruled out any chance of his son, Ianis, making a shock return to Rangers, despite a report saying there was a possibility of the 26-year-old being re-signed following his summer release and being targeted by Legia Warsaw and clubs in the Gulf. (The Herald), external

Rangers are leading the race to sign 19-year-old Northern Ireland goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who is keen to leave Sheffield Wednesday. (Ed Johnson on X), external

Rangers are well-placed to sign former Ibrox forward Josh Windass after the 31-year-old won the right to leave Sheffield Wednesday as a free agent over the non-payment of wages by the financially hit Championship club. (Football Insider), external

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Besiktas have made contact with Rangers for Mohamed Diomande but the Ibrox club are in no rush to sell and have set a price of between £13m-£17m for the midfielder. (Ekrem Konur on X), external

Conor Coady has not yet been given permission to conclude a much anticipated move to Rangers, with the 32-year-old defender in Austria for Leicester City's pre-season training camp. (Daily Record), external

Thelo Aasgaard is a major doubt for the first leg of Rangers' Champions League qualifying tie against Panathinaikos after he picked up an injury during a friendly against Dunfermline. (Scottish Sun), external

Rangers' bid to sign Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth is off. (TalkSport via Daily Record, external)

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Despite playing just one minute of senior football at Paris St-Germain, Djeidi Gassama learnt a lot from his superstar team-mates at the Ligue 1 club.

The new Rangers signing impressed at youth level for PSG before spending time on loan in Belgium and going on to sign for Sheffield Wednesday.

Ibrox is the winger's latest destination, and he says his road to Govan has been shaped by valuable lessons from the world's best.

"It was crazy to be in a team with players like Messi, Mbappe, Neymar," the 21-year-old told Rangers TV.

"I started playing when I was young and then I played for the Under-19s at PSG and made my [first-team] debut.

"It was a good experience for me to train with them, I learnt a lot of things about the gym and what they do on and off the pitch.

"They give 100% and when you see them you have to do the same, and even training with them is like a game.

"The past two years moving to Sheffield, they gave me good progression and good experience in English football. I took my chance and now I'm here, and I think I can continue to improve here."

Xavier Mbuyamba is on the radar of Rangers, Gent and English clubs after Volendam opened the door to a sale of the former Chelsea centre-half for £433,000 after the 23-year-old Dutchman refused to extend his current contract. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Twente Enschede sports director Jan Streuer says "a solution will have to be found quickly" after the £1.5m transfer of Robin Propper from Rangers stalled with the 31-year-old centre-half waiting to reach an agreement over the remainder of his Ibrox contract. (Record), external

Danilo scored and provided three assists as Rangers beat Dunfermline Athletic 4-1 in a closed doors friendly. (Sun), external

Zulte Waregem and Westerlo are both interested in taking 21-year-old Rangers centre-half Clinton Nsiala on loan. (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip