Djeidi Gassama played the role of Super Sub while his goal Rangers’ place booked in the third qualifying round of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw with Panathinaikos.
After scoring the second goal of Rangers in their triumph on the first pipes, Gassama scored a 60th-minute equalizer on Wednesday in the second stage to seal a 3-1 total victory in Athens.
But the Russell Martin team came under enormous pressure from their opponents, where Jack Butland produced a wonderful stop one-on-one to deny Facundo Pellistri early.
Fotis Ioannidis was the next test butland with a fierce header before Pellistri wasted a golden chance from the penalty area, scooping his shot over the bar.
Rangers were able to survive that wave of pressure until eight minutes after the restart when Filip Djuricic’s header of Tasos bakasetas’ Cross writhed past Butland.
The efforts of Drurjic were originally excluded for offside, but after a long VAR assessment the goal was given, although the ecatian of Panathinaikos quickly changed to despair.
Only three minutes after replacing Findlay Curtis, Gassama thundered the ball home from the right post after Danilo’s blocked effort was friendly on the path of the replacements.
The hosts continued to push while Tete’s cross scary ioannidis was avoided before Cyriel Dessers did not end up late along Bartlomiej Dragowski, with rangers who would reach the last qualifying round for Europe Elite competition.
Full-time: Panathinaikos 1-1 Rangers (AGG 1-3)
The perfect strike by Djidi Gassama sends us to the @Cchampionslaguaye Third qualifying round. pic.twitter.com/65jheer6qt
– Rangers Football Club (@Rangersfc) July 30, 2025
Data Debrief: Gassama has an immediate impact
After he had introduced himself to the Rangers Trouw with a stunning solo goal in the first stage, Gassama continued where he had gone in this competition with a brilliant representation of the bank.
But it was the defensive resilience of Rangers who brought them over the line here, with Panathinaikos a expected goals (XG) registered a total of 1.65 of their 20 shots to Rangers’ 0.72 of their 10 attempts in the game.
And that firmness at the back was largely due to the screen of Butland, where the 32-year-old five crucial saves made in the game, while defender John Souttar ended the meeting with a game high number of clearance (12).
#Panathinaikos #Rangers #AGG #Gassama #Seals #Progression #Champions #League #qualifying #football #news