Gassama scores again as Rangers progress in CL qualifying

Djeidi Gassama is quickly winning a place in the hearts of Rangers fans, coming off the bench to score against Panathinaikos as the Scottish side progressed in Champions League qualifying.

Russell Martin’s team took a 2-0 lead to Athens, but were far from comfortable in the searing heat as the hosts piled on the pressure.

Gers goalkeeper Jack Butland was once again the early hero as he produced a string of first-half saves in the Olympic Stadium to rescue his struggling defence.

There was a long VAR check before Filip Duricic’s header gave Panathinaikos a deserved lead in the second half.

But summer signing Gassama made his mark just as he did in the first leg, firing in the equaliser less than a minute after replacing Findlay Curtis after to restore their two-goal cushion.

Rangers, 3-1 victors on aggregate, will face Viktoria Plzen in the third qualifying round, with the first leg at Ibrox on August 5/6.

Gassama settles nerves as Rangers more closer to Champions League qualification

Rangers had to withstand some early pressure as the hosts looked to get themselves back into the tie with a string of attacks.

Tasos Bakasetas fired just wide of the post within the first five minutes before Facundo Pellistri forced a crucial stop from Butland.

The former Engald goalkeeper was forced into action again before the break when he turned a close-range header from Fotis Ioannidis behind.

Panathinaikos continued to dominate and Pellistri should have scored midway through the first half when Duricic took advantage of some slack defending, but he failed to get his shot on target.

Rangers struggled to get out their own half, although Nico Raskin did come close against the run of play when he headed a Joe Rothwell cross over the bar.

The home side broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the restart when Duricic headed past Butland to make it 1-0 on the night and reduce the deficit.

The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but awarded after a lengthy VAR check found the Serbian to be onside.

However, Rangers restored their two-goal lead almost instantly when Gassama fired a volley past the Panathinaikos goalkeeper with his first touch and guarantee at least Europa League football until Christmas.

Martin: We will grow from this

Rangers head coach Russell Martin speaking to BBC Scotland:

“I’ve just said to the players in the dressing room, I’m so proud of them.

“To be five weeks into the process, from where they were to where they are is incredible.

“It’s never easy away from home. A really difficult place to come. They really dug in and that’s going to be important for us. Big John [Souttar] and Nasser [Djiga] were fantastic. Jack Butland’s been brilliant over the two games; we need to rely on him less.

“We spoke about the importance of the subs before the game and they did great.

“It’s no mean feat. We’ve qualified for the Europa League and now we can really attack the Champions League.

“We will get better. The group will grow so much from this.”

Boyd: Rangers rode their luck but Martin won’t care

Kris Boyd was watching the game for Sky Sports News:

“I thought in the first half there were similarities to the game in Glasgow, but Russell Martin won’t really care.

“I know he’s spoken about how he wants perfection, he wants his team to improve game after game. I think the most important thing when you get to this stage is finding a way to get through. Rangers have done that.

“Yes, they rode their luck at times. Jack Butland had some huge saves in the first leg and he had another few tonight.

“It’s a huge result for Russell Martin and Rangers over the tie to go through, because if Rangers had lost there were a lot of people asking questions of Russell Martin and the way that they want to play because he’d given up so many opportunities over both legs.

“But they found a way to get through and that’s all that matters for Rangers right now.

“This team has got a long, long way to go, even to probably get to that level of the last [Rangers] team to play the Champions League.

“Some exciting players have arrived at Rangers, but Russell Martin isn’t silly and he will know that there’s a lot of work to be done.

“They will fancy their chances of going through that next qualifier, but they’re going to have to tighten up defensively.

“Panathinaikos were asking question after question of Rangers defensively. They’ve stood up to it tonight, but the further on you go in this type of tournament you would imagine the forward lines will get better from the opposition.”