Panathinaikos legend fears ‘explosive' Ibrox atmosphere and warns of Rangers ‘transformation' under Russell Martin
PAN OF ACTION Panathinaikos legend fears 'explosive' Ibrox atmosphere and warns of Rangers 'transformation' under Russell Martin
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
PANATHINAIKOS legend Giannis Goumas netted the last time they faced Rangers and he's warned the Greek side not to be blown away by the Ibrox atmosphere.
Rangers host Panathinaikos in Glasgow in the second qualifying round of the Champions League with the return in Athens.
Sign up for the Rangers newsletter
Sign up
2
Panathinaikos will sample the famous Ibrox atmosphere this coming week
Credit: Getty
The last time the sides met, it finished goalless at Ibrox in 2008 before Giumas opened the scoring for the hosts in the return leg.
But an 81st minute goal from Nacho Novo saw Rangers go through on away goals to send them into the Last 16 in a competition where they eventually went all the way to the final before losing to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester.
And Goumas - who spent his entire career at Panathinaikos and helped Greece win Euro 2004 - is wary of the Ibrox atmosphere.
He said: "The key for the tie is for Panathinaikos to withstand the pressure in Scotland.
"I scored a great goal against Rangers in 2008, but it meant nothing because we didn't qualify. It was a shame because it was one of the best goals of my career.
"Rangers are also undergoing transformation with a new manager and players and we don't know how they will present themselves in these two games.
"But they are a Scottish team and we know the Scots bring out that extra passion, especially at home.
"The atmosphere in front of their fans will be explosive.
"That's the key for me, in the first game Panathinaikos will have to withstand the pressure and must try to be able to score without being afraid of the home team.
"They have to go and play their game, get a result and if they do that, I think their task will be easier in the second leg.
Rangers boss Russell Martin opens up on transfer plans as he delivers updates on Dessers and Igamane
"Any player who wears the Panathinaikos jersey must honour it and give everything they have.
"There is no need for fear, but there is certainly pressure in Glasgow."
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos have slashed ticket prices for their home leg against Rangers next week to just £13 in a bid to get a full house.
The game has been moved to Athens' Olympic Stadium because Panathinaikos' home stadium is still being renovated and they want to get as close to the capacity of 69,000 as possible.
2
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
a minute ago
- Metro
Alexander Isak rejects £96m transfer offer after Liverpool talks
Newcastle United striker and Liverpool transfer target Alexander Isak has rejected a stunning contract offer worth £600,000-a-week. Isak informed Newcastle last week that he wants to explore his options this summer despite having three more years on his current contract. Newcastle spent £63m on the Sweden international in 2022 and have seen Isak develop into one of the best strikers in the world. Isak scored 27 goals in all competitions last season to help Newcastle win the Carabao Cup and qualify for the Champions League. Despite tentative transfer rumours earlier in the year, Isak was expected to stay at St James' Park this summer – but he dropped a bombshell last week by telling Newcastle he was open to leaving. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Isak is yet to join up with his Newcastle teammates on their pre-season tour in southeast Asia as he is reportedly managing a minor thigh injury. Liverpool have expressed interest in signing Isak since he revealed he was open to a summer move but Newcastle still want well over £100m for the striker. Arne Slot sanctioned Liverpool's £69m move for Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike earlier this month but the Premier League champions are also interested in bringing Isak to Anfield. Isak has also attracted interest from the Saudi Pro League, with Al Hilal offering the forward a contract worth a stunning £32m-a-year tax-free with lucrative bonuses on top. As well as pocking £600,000-a-week over three years, Isak has been promised a further £3.6m for winning the Saudi Pro League and £1.75m for finishing as the division's top scorer, according to The Sun. Al Hilal finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season and recently poached Simone Inzaghi from Champions League finalists Inter Milan. Despite the incredible sums on offer, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Isak has rejected the approach from Al Hilal and informed the club he intends to remain in Europe. Liverpool will not come close to matching Al Hilal's contract proposal but can offer Isak the chance to win major trophies under Arne Slot. As well as signing Ekitike, Liverpool have bolstered Slot's Premier League champions with the signings of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe addressed the speculation over Isak's future ahead of the club's pre-season friendly against Arsenal on Sunday. 'He is now in Newcastle getting his injury assessed. Hopefully he will be back soon and playing in the black and white shirt, that's what we want to see,' Howe said. 'Of course there are things going on behind the scenes. Conversations that happen between Alex and ourselves and Alex and the club will stay private. 'He is very popular in the dressing room and would love him to continue his journey at Newcastle. There are no contract talks taking place, that will be for a later date, potentially. 'I certainly hope he stays. It's football, who knows what the future will bring.' Speaking after the game, which Arsenal won 3-2, Howe said there was 'no chance' that Isak would join the pre-season tour for Newcastle's final two games in southeast Asia. Ex-Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has predicted Isak will end up at Anfield and believes the club have been pursuing him behind the scenes for 12 months. 'I can only see Alexander Isak joining Liverpool if he does leave Newcastle, which is now expected,' he wrote in his column for CaughtOffside. 'I think this has been something that's been ongoing probably for 12 months or more. I think the expectation from Newcastle was that it was going to be next season that other clubs were going to bid. More Trending 'A lot of fans will want him to be sold abroad, but it doesn't work like that. If the player says that they're going to down tools unless you let me go to this specific club, it's very, very difficult for the club.' Arsenal and Manchester United have previously been linked with Isak but the Gunners have just spent £64m to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting. Isak would likely have major reservations about joining a United team who finished 15th in the Premier League last season. Ruben Amorim is keen to sign a new striker, however, and has discussed two targets after missing out on his former Sporting star Gyokeres to Arsenal. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: William Saliba provides major update on Arsenal future amid fresh Real Madrid transfer links MORE: Liverpool agree Luis Diaz transfer with £65.5m exit imminent MORE: Ruben Amorim explains why Man Utd fans must wait for Bryan Mbeumo debut
Evening Standard
a minute ago
- Evening Standard
Chloe Kelly thanks for doubters after firing England to Euro 2025 glory
'I am so grateful to be out at the back end, but if that's a story to tell someone who maybe experiences something the same, then tough times don't last and just around the corner was a Champions League final. I won that and now a Euros final, I've won that.
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Celtic and Rangers handed home draws in Premier Sports Cup as St Mirren join them in last 16
Holders Celtic will host Premiership newcomers Falkirk in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup. Today's draw produced a repeat of last season's quarter-final, which Brendan Rodgers ' side won 5-2 on their way to lifting the trophy. Rangers were also handed a home tie as League One side Alloa Athletic, surprise winners of Group C, were rewarded with a trip to Ibrox. Alloa are the only third-tier side left in the competition after a 3-2 win at Airdrie on Saturday maintained their 100-per-cent record in the group phase. There are four all-Premiership ties, with Kilmarnock at home to Dundee United, Livingston hosting Hibs and St Mirren entertaining Hearts. The knockout stage introduces the five clubs who qualified for Europe and were spared participation in the groups. All five were seeded alongside Hearts, St Johnstone and Partick Thistle, the three best section winners. The draw was held shortly after St Mirren rounded off the group phase with a 2-1 victory against Ayr United in Paisley. Despite that result, Ayr progressed as one of the three best group runners-up and can now look forward to an all-Championship tie against Partick, who eliminated Ross County by beating them 3-1 in Dingwall on Saturday. The last 16 also paired St Johnstone with Motherwell and Morton with Aberdeen. Ayr started the day top of Group D and would have gone through as a seeded team had they beaten St Mirren, but a poor first-half display proved costly for Scott Brown's side as Killian Phillips scored twice for the home team to take his tally to four in two games. The midfielder's first goal came after 16 minutes, when goalkeeper David Mitchell failed to deal with his low shot and defender Nick McAllister could not prevent it crossing the line. When Roland Idowu picked him out in the box, the Irishman cleverly guided his second home seven minutes before half-time. Lifted by the introduction of Jude Bonnar, the midfielder on loan from Celtic, Ayr pulled one back through Kevin Holt. His header dipped under the bar after a corner by Dom Thomas. Saints saw the game out to top the group on a day when Dunfermline were denied a place in the last 16 on goal difference. On a high-scoring weekend, St Johnstone thrashed 10-man Elgin City 8-0 and Livingston beat Kelty 6-0, while Dundee and Raith each scored five against Montrose and Inverness respectively.
