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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers vs Panathinaikos LIVE as Champions League dream and Russell Martin era begins at Ibrox
The clash will come too soon for one of Gers' new signings EUR ON Rangers vs Panathinaikos LIVE as Champions League dream and Russell Martin era begins at Ibrox – latest team news RANGERS' quest to make a return to the promised land begins tonight with a huge Ibrox showdown against Panathinaikos. The first competitive game of the Russell Martin era is a massive one as the Light Blues begin their bid to qualify for the Champions League. 3 Rangers kick off their season with a massive game at Ibrox Credit: Getty 3 Greek side Panathinaikos make the journey to face the Light Blues on Tuesday Credit: AFP 3 It will be Russell Martin's first match in charge Credit: Willie Vass Greek giants Panathinaikos are the visitors as the Rangers' journey to reach the league phase begins at the second qualifying round stage. Martin and Panathinaikos boss Rui Vitoria have both named strong squads for the two legs, with the return game in Athens pencilled in for the Wednesday next week, July 30. Rangers were given arguably the toughest draw when it took place last month. The other two teams also in the opposite side of the draw were SK Brann of Norway and Switzerland's Servette. Rangers could, however, still meet the Swiss outfit as both sides will face off in the third qualifying round if they see past Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen respectively. Panathinaikos failed to qualify for the Europa League last season after they were knocked out by Ajax in the third qualifying round. They did, however, see past French side Rennes in the Conference League play-off, though, to guarantee European football for the season - before Fiorentina won 5-4 on aggregate to end their campaign in the round of 16. It could be a new-look lineup for the first game at Ibrox too, with as many as SIX summer signings fit and ready to play. Follow SunSport's LIVE blog for all the latest news and reaction ahead of kick-off at Ibrox. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers vs Panathinaikos: Champions League dream kicks-off as Russell Martin era starts at Ibrox
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS' quest to make a return to the promised land begins tonight with a huge Ibrox showdown against Panathinaikos. The first competitive game of the Russell Martin era is a huge one as the Light Blues begin their bid to get to the Champions League. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Rangers kick off their season with a massive game at Ibrox Credit: Getty 4 Greek side Panathinaikos make the journey to face the Light Blues on Tuesday Credit: AFP 4 It will be Russell Martin's first match in charge Credit: Willie Vass Greek giants Panathinaikos are the visitors as the Gers' journey to reach the league phase begins at the second qualifying round stage. Martin and Panathinaikos boss Rui Vitoria have both named their squads for the two legs, with the return game in Athens pencilled in for the Wednesday next week, July 30. Rangers were given arguably the toughest draw when it took place last month. The other two teams also in the opposite side of the draw were SK Brann of Norway and Switzerland's Servette. Panathinaikos failed to qualify for the Europa League last season after they were knocked out by Ajax in the third qualifying round. They did, however, see past French side Rennes in the Conference League play-off, though, to guarantee European football for the season - before Fiorentina won 5-4 on aggregate to end their campaign in the round of 16. The prize for the winners of this tie will be a third qualifying round showdown with either Servette or Viktoria Plzen. It could be a new-look lineup for the first game at Ibrox too, with as many as SEVEN summer signings registered for the competition. SunSport has all the details ahead of the first leg in Glasgow. Rangers boss Russell Martin opens up on transfer plans as he delivers updates on Dessers and Igamane What time does Rangers vs Panathinaikos kick off? Rangers vs Panathinaikos takes place TONIGHT , Tuesday, July 22. , Tuesday, July 22. The game kicks off at 7.45pm UK time. The first leg will be held at Ibrox. Is Rangers vs Panathinaikos on TV and can I live stream it? Rangers vs Panathinaikos HAS been selected for live TV coverage and will be broadcasted by Premier Sports. It will be shown live on Premier Sports 1. Coverage begins at 7.15pm - half an hour before kick off. Subscribers can live stream the match via the Premier Player. BBC Sportsound will have radio commentary for the game. Alternatively, you can follow all the action right here via SunSport's LIVE blog. Team news Russell Martin will have all-but one of his new recruits ready and available for the Champions League showdown. Thelo Aasgaard is a major doubt for the first leg after he picked up a knock during the 4-1 friendly win against Neil Lennon's Dunfermline which was played behind closed doors. 4 Emmanuel Fernandez, Joe Rothwell, Lyall Cameron, Max Aarons, Nasser Djiga and Djeidi Gassama are all available - but most recent recruit Gassama will NOT be ready to start the match. Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane have both been named in the squad and featured in Rangers friendly against Hamilton, despite the pair being heavily linked with moves away from Ibrox. Danilo netted a brace against the League One outfit in the behind closed doors friendly at the weekend. But Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz, Robin Propper and Rabbi Matondo have all been left OUT. Panathinaikos could be without Elton Fikay after the left-back suffered a knock in the lead up to the fixture. The Greek side have made four signings this summer, with Pedro Chirivella, Georgios Kyriakopoulos, Ahmed Touba and Alban Lafont snapped up. Kyriakopoulos looks set to miss out through injury though. Latest odds Rangers - 3/4 Draw - 11/4 Panathinaikos - 16/5 *Latest odds correct from Sky Bet as of Tuesday, July 22. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ross McCausland ‘lined up for surprise Rangers reunion' at overseas club
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RECENT news on Ross McCausland's potential departure from Rangers has been limited. Last month it was reported that three clubs were interested in signing the winger. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Ross McCausland is being linked with a move away from Rangers Credit: Willie Vass 3 The academy graduate fell out of favour at Ibrox at the end of last season Credit: Willie Vass 3 Russell Martin has welcomed plenty of new players but only Leon Balogun has left so far Credit: Willie Vass Those clubs were from countries as varied as Belgium, Switzerland the US. And a report claims that there is still interest in McCausland from the States, as well as a new team joining the race. The Northern Irishman featured 25 times in all competitions for Rangers last season, scoring three times. But the 22-year-old fell out of favour with Barry Ferguson, making just three appearances under the interim boss. The final straw appeared to be the academy graduate's first-half red card away to Aberdeen in April, which proved to be his final appearance of the season. So it's possible that Gers will look to move McCausland on this summer, providing they can attract interest in him. And the Daily Record claim that two Major League Soccer sides are sniffing around McCausland. Aris Limassol of Cyprus are also said to have 'major interest' in the Gers star, along with some English teams. A move to Aris would see the wideman reunite with two former Ibrox teammates. Last year's Cypriot runners-up signed Connor Goldson when he brought his six-year Rangers career to an end last summer. Rangers boss Russell Martin opens up on transfer plans as he delivers updates on Dessers and Igamane And they made another swoop for an Ibrox defender this summer, bringing in Leon Balogun on a free transfer. McCausland was snapped up by Gers from Linfield's youth setup in 2019. Have YOU got a point for Kris Boyd? Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah chew over the big talking points each week SOMETHING you've just got to get off your chest from the weekend action? A burning Scottish football talking point you can't wait to bring up with Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah? SunSport's GoBallistic show wants to hear from you! So why not help set the Scottish football agenda for the week ahead! Have your say on the game's big topics by emailing us on: GoBallistic@ It's YOUR turn to Go Ballistic! He made his first-team debut in the 21/22 season, and has made 66 appearances in total. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Scottish Premiership club LOSE SFA funding for new training centre with ambitious plans in turmoil
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DUNDEE'S plans for a state-of-the-art new training centre in the city's Riverside area are in limbo - after they LOST OUT on SFA funding for the project. We told you how Dundee FC Community Trust (DFCCT) had launched ambitious plans for a complex on the banks of the Tay at Riverside Drive. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 An impression of how the new plans could look 3 How the complex could look 3 John Nelms announces the plans to build the club's new training facility at Riverside Credit: Willie Vass The Dark Blues wanted to build a new hub facility at the Riverside, transforming the current pitches and adding a new artificial surface with a small stadium. Dundee council approved their proposal last year - with club officials saying at the time that the trust had secured investment through the Scottish FA's Grassroots Pitch and Facilities Fund which would be matched by the Keyes family. But those plans were put into disarray when they lost a legal battle with protesters. Pressure group Save Riverside Park challenged the decision in the courts - claiming the development would affect flood defences, and breach environmental rights. And with the local authority opting not to oppose the action, the Court of Session came down AGAINST Dundee. That means the Dens Park men will have to decide whether to put forward a new plan for the same site or look elsewhere. But the really bad news for them is that as it stands they've now LOST the SFA funding for the proposal. As the award had to be spent over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years and wasn't delivered in this period, the cash was simply withdrawn and reallocated to alternative projects. And applications for this year's fund have already closed. A Dundee spokesperson, as quoted in the Courier, said: 'Dundee FC Community Trust and Dundee Football Club are aware of the current situation regarding the application and funding for the football training centre and community hub at the Riverside Pitches. 'Both the trust and the football club are working together to explore the best course of action going forward for the football training centre and community hub which will serve the people of Dundee in many different ways.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Danilo stars as Rangers beat fellow SPFL club in closed doors friendly a week ahead of Panathinaikos showdown
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DANILO continued to stake his claim to lead the line for Rangers in Europe as he made a huge impact in a behind closed doors friendly clash. The Brazilian striker scored and provided THREE assists as the Gers saw-off Dunfermline 4-1. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Danilo starred as Rangers beat Dunfermline Credit: Willie Vass 4 Kieran Dowell scored in the win Credit: Willie Vass 4 Thelo Aasgaard played from the start Credit: Willie Vass 4 Rangers beat Neil Lennon's Dunfermline Credit: Alamy The real stuff starts in just a week's time for Rangers. Russell Martin's side face Greek giants Panathinaikos in the first leg of their crunch Champions League qualifier next Tuesday. That meeting is at Ibrox, with the two sides doing battle again in their second qualifying round tie in Greece the following week. It's been a busy summer of transfer activity for the Gers with seven new recruits, as well as the permanent addition of Oscar Cortes. Djeidi Gassama is the latest arrival, having sealed his £2.2million witch from Sheffield Wednesday today. New winger Gassama didn't start as the Gers faced Championship outfit Dunfermline - managed by Celtic legend Neil Lennon - in a behind closed doors friendly clash. Having drawn with both Club Brugge and Barnsley, the Gers got a win on the board this time around with a 4-1 victory. With question marks around the futures of Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, Danilo has been given the chance to show what he can do during pre-season. Neither Dessers or Igamane are understood to have featured in the game, with both still working their way back to full fitness. After scoring the Gers' goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Barnsley, the £6million Brazilian striker was involved in all four of the Light Blues' strikes against the Pars. New Rangers chiefs Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe's first interview He scored one and set up the other three. The other scorers for Russell Martin's side were Kieran Dowell, Thelo Aasgaard and Nico Raskin. Dowell has featured heavily during pre-season despite the anticipation that he would likely be moving on. Rangers' starting XI from the game could provide a nod to how head coach Martin will approach things against Panathinaikos next week. Jack Butland started in goals in front of a back four of James Tavernier, John Souttar, Nasser Djiga and Max Aarons. Joe Rothwell anchored a midfield three of himself, Nico Raskin and Mo Diomande. Danilo led the line with Dowell and Thelo Aasgaard in behind him. Djiga, Aarons, Rothwell and Aasgaard were the new recruits who started the match. With the Gers not blessed with too much depth in the wide areas, it is perhaps likely Gassama will come straight into the starting XI next week. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
