Panathinaikos have been drawn against Rangers in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Of the possible opponents — Rangers, Salzburg, and Viktoria Plzeň — the Scottish side arguably represents the most challenging draw for the Greek club.

However, if Panathinaikos manages to eliminate Rangers, they will gain a crucial advantage in the third qualifying round draw. Specifically, they would be seeded, as UEFA would credit them with the coefficient points of the Scottish club — a valuable bonus in the high-stakes Champions League qualification process.

Draw Developments – Key Pairings:

• Viktoria Plzeň vs. Servette → Resulting in Panathinaikos facing Rangers
• Brann vs. Salzburg
• Third Champions Path Group:
  • Slovan Bratislava vs. Virtus or Zrinjski
  • Shelbourne or Linfield vs. Qarabağ
  • The New Saints or Shkëndija vs. Steaua or Inter Club d’Escaldes
  • KuPS or Milsami vs. Olimpija Ljubljana or Kairat Almaty
• Second Group (Champions Path):
  • Copenhagen vs. Drita or Differdange
  • Noah or Budućnost vs. Ferencváros
  • Rijeka vs. Ludogorets or Dinamo Minsk
  • Lech Poznań vs. Egnatia or Breiðablik
• Other notable ties on the Champions Path:
  • Levadia Tallinn or RFS vs. Hibernians or Malmö
  • Žalgiris or Ħamrun Spartans vs. Dynamo Kyiv
  • Pafos vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv
  • Víkingur or Red Imps vs. Red Star Belgrade

Key Dates:

The first leg of Panathinaikos vs. Rangers will take place on July 22 or 23, with the return leg at OAKA scheduled for July 29 or 30.

Context: The Greek Clubs in Europe for 2025–26

The 2025–26 European club season unofficially kicked off today with the Champions League second qualifying round draw. It marks the beginning of continental commitments for Greek clubs.

• Olympiacos, as Greek champions, are already qualified directly for the League Phase of the Champions League — a significant development under the new format.
• PAOK will join the European fray later, entering the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.
• Panathinaikos are the first Greek team in action, facing the uphill task of surviving three qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League proper.

With the draw now complete, Panathinaikos know their path starts against Rangers, a club with considerable European pedigree, making this a high-profile and tough early test for the “Greens.”