Rangers fail to break down Panathinaikos in Uefa Cup draw
Novo was deied three times by Galinovic
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Wednesday, 13, Feb 2008 10:52
Rangers failed to break down a stoic Panathinaikos side at Ibrox as their Uefa Cup first-leg match finished in a 0-0 draw.
The Scottish league leaders now face a tough trip to Greece where they will have to win to claim a place in the last 16 of the competition.
Panathinaikos posed little threat to the Rangers goal and it was one-way traffic for most of the match but the home side failed to capitalise on the chances they created.
Despite having to settle for the Uefa Cup following their exit from the Champions League Rangers showed plenty of gusto as they took the game to the Greek side.
Midfielder Steve Davis, making his debut for the club, had an early chance for Walter Smith's men but was denied Mario Galinovic in the Panathinaikos goal.
Galinovic was in inspired form all night and produced a series of excellent saves to keep Rangers at bay.
Nacho Novo was the man left feeling most infuriated by Galinovic's exploits. The striker saw two goal-bound efforts saved just before the break.
First he anticipated Charlie Adam's flick-on superbly to beat the offside trap but shot straight at Galinovic before the keeper improvised a save with his legs when Novo had bee played in by Davis' pin-point cross.
Rangers continued to press after the break and almost took the lead when Lee McCullough found himself free in the box but he could not guide his header towards the target.
Galinovic then made a fine double-save to deny Barry Ferguson and then Novo who was trying to pounce on the rebound.
Late on Panathinaikos nearly stole the game. Dame Ndoye struck a shot just wide of the goal with ten minutes remaining and went closer still moments later but Allan McGregor was on hand to make a good save.
The winner of the second leg next week will go on to face either Werder Bremen or Sporting Braga. The German side currently hold a 3-0 lead following the first leg.