The second leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round between Panathinaikos (Greece) and Rangers (Scotland) will take place on July 30 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. The score of the first match is 2-0 in favor of Rangers. Panathinaikos vs. Rangers: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Panathinaikos
The Greeks lost the first match 0-2, conceding one of the goals after having a player sent off. This defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss in the Champions League. Additionally, Panathinaikos' 13-match scoring streak in European competitions came to an end. To advance to the next round, the club needs to defeat Rangers by at least three goals. The last time the Greeks won by such a margin in the Champions League was in 2012, coincidentally against another Scottish team.
- Panathinaikos has scored in 5 of their last 6 Champions League matches.
- At home, the team has not lost in 5 of their last 7 matches in this tournament (3 wins, 2 draws).
- The Greeks have not conceded more than one goal in 5 of their last 7 home matches in the Champions League.
Projected lineup for Panathinaikos (4-3-3)
Bartlomiej Dragowski – Georgios Vagiannidis, Erik Palmer-Brown, Ahmed Touba, Georgios Kyriakopoulos – Nemanja Maksimovic, Facundo Pellistri, Anastasios Bakasetas – Fotis Ioannidis, Pedro Chirivella, Filip Djuricic.
Defender Georgios Vagiannidis will miss the match due to suspension.
Rangers
The victory in the previous match was the Scots' first win in their last six Champions League games (3 draws, 2 losses). Before the match against Panathinaikos, the team had conceded in 12 consecutive games in this tournament. For a second consecutive appearance in the third qualifying round, Rangers can afford to lose the return leg by a minimal score difference. If the club loses by exactly two goals, extra time will be played. Notably, 6 of Rangers' last 8 defeats in the Champions League have been by large margins.
- Rangers have not won in 11 of their last 13 Champions League matches (3 draws, 8 losses).
- The team has scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 7 of their last 8 Champions League games.
- At least one goal has been scored in both halves in Rangers' last 6 away matches in this tournament.
Projected lineup for Rangers (4-4-2)
Jack Butland – John Souttar, Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga, James Tavernier – Nicolas Raskin, Joe Rothwell, Kieran Dowell, Mohamed Diomande – Finlay Curtis, Danilo.
Referee
Simone Sozza (Italy)
Matches – 16 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 72;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.5;
Red cards shown – 1;
Average fouls per match – 21;
Penalties – 50%.
Match Prediction: Panathinaikos vs. Rangers
The Scots predictably secured a positive result at home. Now, Russell Martin's side needs to maintain their advantage, but this will be challenging. In away Champions League games, Rangers have struggled regardless of the opponent's level. The club has only one win in their last 19 away Champions League matches (7 draws, 11 losses). Moreover, Rangers have kept a clean sheet in just two of these encounters.
The Greeks, backed by strong support from their fans, will push forward. At home in the Champions League, Panathinaikos has not lost in 5 of their last 7 matches (2 wins, 3 draws). Looking at their recent results on the international stage, it's evident that the Greeks are nearly unbeatable at home. In the previous Europa Conference League campaign, the club won 5 out of 6 home matches, losing only to the eventual tournament winners. During this run, Panathinaikos displayed strong attacking prowess, scoring 13 goals in 6 home games.
Considering these factors, my prediction is: Panathinaikos will not lose and Total Over 1.5 goals
