Panathinaikos star says Rangers clashes are season definers
And key central defender Touba admitted on their return to Athens that the matches with Rangers could define their season.
The Algerian international said: "We are all well aware how important these games against Rangers are for the club and for our season.
Read more:
"We have to be ready for them and I think we will be.
"Anything less than qualifying will be a serious setback to the season.
"Look, anything can happen. It is an 11 v 11 game.
"But the advantage for us is that we will also have the tremendous support of our fans for the second game at home, which could be very important.
"We have a thirst for the new season and it kicks off with the matches against Rangers.
"I feel very good since the first day I came to the country. The people here are very kind. Also, everyone in the team welcomed me in the best way.
"We worked very hard in the training camp. We need to rest up now and be ready for Rangers."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
34 minutes ago
- The National
Russell Martin's first Rangers league starting XI revealed
It is the new boss' first Scottish Premiership game at the helm. Martin has already guided Rangers into the third qualifying round of the Champions League after defeating Greek giants Panathinaikos 3-1 on aggregate. Read more: His team now face Viktoria Plzen for a place in the play-offs, although first, the focus shifts to the domestic front and the trip to Fir Park. [[Rangers]] will be keen to get off to a productive start in the league after finishing 17 points behind city rivals Celtic last season. For today's game, boss Martin has made one alteration to his starting lineup from Wednesday evening's 1-1 draw in Athens. Jack Butland continues between the sticks, as Nasser Djiga partners John Souttar at the heart of defence. James Tavernier and Max Aarons are at full-back. Nicolas Raskin starts in midfield with Mohamed Diomande and Joe Rothwell, as Djeidi Gassama gets the nod out wide after scoring off the bench in each of his last two competitive appearances. Kieran Dowell plays on the other flank with Danilo up front. Rangers' starting XI to face Motherwell: Butland, Tavernier, Djjiga, Souttar, Aarons, Rothwell, Diomande, Raskin, Dowell, Gassama, Danilo. Subs: Kelly, Cortes, Barron, Dessers, Bajrami, Cameron, Jefte, Fernandez, Curtis.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Motherwell vs Rangers LIVE score and goal updates from Premiership opener at Fir Park
A new season, new hope - and for Rangers a new era. There have been plenty of false dawns at Ibrox in recent years but will it be different this time? Russell Martin leads the Light Blues into the 2025/26 season with Rangers now under the ownership of 49ers Enterprises following a summer takeover. Martin, who has already negotiated his way through the first Champions League qualifier, will get his first taste of domestic action as a manager with a short trip to Motherwell. And he will come up against his old Norwich City team-mate Jens Berthel Askou as the Steelmen also kick off the campaign under a nee boss following Michael Wimmer's departure. It's three years since Rangers won an opening Premiership game and Martin will be desperate to avoid another false start that kills the early season enthusiasm. There is also the small matter of trying to get a confidence booster ahead of their next Champions League qualifying challenge against Viktoria Plzen. 14:19Gavin Berry A big Ask for Well Jens Berthel Askou hopes to upset Rangers' favourites tag, and get his reign as Motherwell boss off to a flying start. Askou goes toe-to-toe with former Norwich City team-mate Russell Martin at Fir Park for the tea-time kick-off, and says going up against one of Scottish football's giants is a great way to kick off their Premiership campaign. But having watched them overcome Greek side Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifiers, Askou knows that won't be easy. It's always good to start against a top side and really get on your toes from the beginning and get that big test that you're always looking for. You want to compete at the highest level and against the best teams possible, and that's what we get the chance to do. It's about getting a good start. A good start is a good performance where we see there is potential in what we're doing. If we can top that off with a great result, even a win, that will make us even happier, and that is what we will try to do. We're adding quality in what we do every week, and for every game, and we know it's going to be a very big test on Saturday, against a top side that has just performed very well against a really good opponent over two legs. We know we're not the favourites, but it doesn't mean we can't make a result and a good performance, which is what I'm looking to do. I wouldn't say it's an easy job to come up against Glasgow Rangers, no matter what. I know Russell more than I know some of the other coaches, but I haven't played against him before. I expect us to try and do what we want to do, and not let the level of Rangers, or difficulty in playing against a top side, stress us and take away our courage, instead of trying to do it very basically, with fear, and stepping away from our principles. I expect us to do that in a very good way, through many phases of the game, and also for it to be very difficult to do what we want to do on and off the ball, at times. 'That's when we have to be really good, when we feel the game is getting tough and we're making more mistakes, while Rangers are showing their abilities. That's when we have to help each other, and I hope and expect that everyone around us and behind us will help us through these periods. But we've shown to ourselves and whoever has been here to watch us, follow us and support us, that we're in a better place than when we started. 12:44Ross Pilcher Third time lucky? Russell Martin might be a football purist. But while he's in charge at Rangers, he knows he'll be judged on one thing only - winning. And as he prepares for his first crack at the Scottish Premiership as a gaffer, he's convinced he can mould the Ibrox outfit into title contenders. He's only 57 days into the job as manager. At his press conference ahead of today's league opener at Motherwell, he joked that he should still be enjoying pre-season instead of fretting over three points. Unfortunately, that goes with the territory of being Rangers gaffer. In midweek, whilst not anywhere near their best, his team dug out a draw in Athens against Panathinaikos to progress in Champions League qualifying. Martin's pride in that result didn't necessarily come from the performance. After a summer of seismic change, it was their ability to find a way to win. The manager is still in the early stages of implementing a new style of play at Ibrox. They're miles away from where he wants them to be and he's adamant there will be more new signings before the transfer window closes. But while all of this is going on, he has to win football matches. And - then failed to recover sufficiently to challenge for the title - his team will have to do the same in Lanarkshire. 12:42Ross Pilcher Rangers the team to beat says Rothwell Joe Rothwell says everyone wants to beat Russell Martin's new-look Rangers - but insists they're ready to get off to a Premiership flyer against Motherwell. The Ibrox midfielder has already helped the club navigate a difficult Champions League qualifying tie against Panathinaikos. And now he's gearing up for their league opener at Fir Park on Saturday night. Rothwell expects it to be frantic in Lanarkshire with The Steelmen out to spoil Gers' Premiership start. But the 30-year-old - who arrived from Bournemouth this summer - is adamant that Martin's men can compete with Celtic for the title.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
The 4 teams Rangers could face in Champions League play-off
Losing to Viktoria Plzen would see [[Rangers]] drop into the league phase of the Europa League. Ahead of the Champions League play-off round draw on Monday, Rangers know the four possible teams they could come up against should they advance in the competition. Rangers will be an unseeded club if they overcome Viktoria Plzen, and will take a spot in the league path draw. In the Champions League play-off round, Rangers could face either the winners of the tie involving Benfica and Nice or the winners between Red Bull Salzburg and Club Brugge. Read more: Those matches take place on Wednesday, August 6 and Tuesday, August 12, meaning the possible opponents would only become certain at the same time as the tie between Rangers and Viktoria Plzen is settled. However, in Monday's draw, Rangers fans will discover which tie to keep an eye on with the potential of facing the winners if they too advance. After overcoming Panathinaikos, Russell Martin vowed [[Rangers]] would have a "right go" at the Champions League. He said: "We've got through a really difficult tie over two legs with a win and we've qualified for the Europa League. "And we can attack the Champions League now and have a right go. "I'm incredibly proud of them, the team, the staff, the fans were amazing, so it's a big night for us." Champions League play-off round league path Seeded Winner of Nice vs Benfica Winner of Red Bull Salzburg vs Club Brugge Unseeded Winner of Rangers vs Viktoria Plzen Winner of Feyenoord vs Fenerbahce
