Champions League Qual: Panathinaikos vs Rangers 30/07/2025

Betting on the Match Winner

One of the more balanced and higher-quality ties in the second round of Champions League qualifying didn’t live up to expectations in the first leg played in Glasgow.

The reason for that wasn’t the home team Rangers, who played up to their usual standard, but rather a lackluster performance from Panathinaikos, who didn’t look like a team with serious ambitions to qualify for Europe’s top club competition. In the return leg, they’ll need a much better performance if they hope to overcome a two-goal deficit and progress to the next round.

A major factor in the final result was the red card shown to young Panathinaikos defender Georgios Vagianidis early in the second half, but even before that moment, the Greens struggled to find their rhythm.

PAO can win at home

In Athens, I expect the roles to be reversed — with a highly motivated and well-prepared home team pressing forward from the first whistle, backed by a passionate home crowd. This is a much better side than what they showed in Glasgow, and with a bit of luck, they might even complete the comeback at the Olympic Stadium.

It’s a somewhat riskier prediction, but at the very least, a narrow win for Panathinaikos looks quite realistic. The odds are solid, and it’s definitely worth a try.