Panathinaikos boss issues Rangers warning as Greeks warm up for Champions League crunch with convincing friendly win
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PANATHINAIKOS boss Rui Vitoria reckons they are ready for Rangers ahead of their Champions League showdown.
It's after they eased to a win in their first pre-season game of the season.
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Panathinaikos head coach Rui Vitoria
Credit: Alamy
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Panathinaikos fans light flares
Credit: AFP
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Rangers boss Russell Martin
Credit: PA
Rangers entertain the Greek side at Ibrox in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round tie later this month before the second leg in Greece.
Panathinaikos are currently preparing for the clashes by doing their pre-season preparations in Austria.
They easily beat Ukrainian outfit Metalist 3-0 in a friendly.
And boss Vitoria was happy with the way they are building up to the massive games against Russell Martin's side.
He said: "I was very pleased with that performance, given it was our first match of the new season.
"I think the team was quite good on its defensive side of the game, in terms of being solid.
"And we pressed high up, which is what I wanted them to do.
"It led to us stealing some balls and we managed to score goals from it.
"What I think we lacked a little was greater urgency when we had the ball at our feet and attacking quicker.
"But I'm quite satisfied, since we're talking about the first friendly and very pleased at the build-up to the games against Rangers this month."
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One of the danger men Rangers will have to keep close tabs on is striker Fotis Ioannidis who scored 15 goals last season for club and country.
The Greeks have already turned down a £17million bid from Fiorentina after the 25-year-old scored against the Italians in the Europa League in March.
Panathinaikos have moved to strengthen their side ahead of the Champions League qualifier.
They've brought in midfielder Pedro Chirivella from Nantes, left-back Georgios Kyriakopoulos from Serie B side Monza, and Algeria international centre-back Ahmed Touba from Basaksehir in Turkey.
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