Russell Martin's Rangers reign begins with win over Panathinaikos

Rangers hold the advantage in their Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos after a 2-0 home win in Russell Martin’s first competitive game in charge.

Goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama gave the new head coach a perfect start and a vital lead in the second qualifying round tie.

Following a busy summer that saw a seven new signings brought in after a US takeover, and the majority of Martin’s work with his new side take place behind closed doors, there was curiosity about how his new-look Rangers would line up.

Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons and Nasser Djiga were all handed debuts but there were also interesting exclusions from the existing squad as youngster Curtis made his first European appearance and Kieran Dowell, who was loaned out last season, returned to the side.

Rangers started brightly but within minutes Panathinaikos were on top, with Fecundo Pellistri and then Filip Duricic going close to opening the scoring.

Defender Erik Palmer-Brown tested Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland and the hosts looked a little shaky as they played out from the back. On their surges forward Mohamed Diomande and Danilo both had attempts on goal but the game was goalless at the break.

Panathinaikos looked the most likely to open the scoring early in the second half, and Butland made a good save from Duricic but Rangers suddenly found a way to goal against the run of play.

Nicolas Raskin fed Curtis the ball and he cut in from the left and hit a curling shot from outside the box that flew past Bartlomeij Dragowski after taking a tiny deflection and found the back of the net.

Moments after going a goal up, Rangers were a man up too. After springing a counter again, Curtis was fouled by Vagiannidis and with the defender already on a caution afor diving earlier, he was sent off.

Panathinaikos reorganised but lost their attacking threat and Rangers grew more comfortable with more space for their possession game.

That paid dividends when substitute Gassama was given the ball on the left flank, only for the winger to cut inside and unleash a perfectly placed drive that found the net from 20 yards out and gave Rangers a two-goal cushion ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg in Athens.