Rangers held their nerve in a tense Europa League qualifier against Panathinaikos, securing a 3-1 aggregate victory despite a 1-1 draw in Athens. The result marks a successful start for new manager Philippe Martin, who faced an early baptism of fire in his debut European fixture.
A Night of High Drama in Athens
The Greek side came out swinging, determined to overturn their 2-0 first-leg deficit. Panathinaikos' aggressive approach paid dividends when they opened the scoring, sending the home crowd into raptures and putting Rangers under serious pressure.
Rangers Show Their Resilience
However, the Scottish giants demonstrated their European pedigree with a composed response. Their crucial away goal not only restored parity on the night but effectively killed the tie, leaving Panathinaikos needing three more goals to progress.
Martin Passes First Major Test
New Rangers boss Philippe Martin will be particularly pleased with his team's game management in the hostile atmosphere of the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium. The result provides a solid foundation as Rangers continue their European campaign and domestic title challenge.
Key moments:
- Panathinaikos' early goal threatened a dramatic comeback
- Rangers' equaliser effectively sealed the tie
- Defensive discipline crucial in seeing out the match
- Martin's tactical decisions prove effective under pressure
