Glasgow Rangers will aim to move a step closer to playing in European football’s biggest competition today. The club takes a two-goal advantage to the Olympic Stadium in Athens in this second qualifying round, second-leg clash against Panathinaikos.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch this match as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if the game isn’t available where you are.
Former Scotland international Russell Martin kicked off his tenure as Rangers’ new manager with a strong 2-0 win at Ibrox in the home leg, thanks to Findlay Curtis and debutant Djeidi Gassama.
That match saw Giorgos Vagiannidis receive a red card for Panathinaikos, ruling the defender out of this crucial return match. The Greek side will feel confident of clawing back the deficit, however, with home advantage on its side.
Panathinaikos takes on Rangers on Wednesday, July 30, at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. EEST local time in Greece, which makes it a 7 p.m. BST start in the UK. For soccer fans in the US and Canada, it’s a 2 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. PT kickoff, while it’s a 4 a.m. AEST start in Australia on Thursday morning.
Livestream Panathinaikos vs. Rangers in the UK
The great news for footy fans in the UK is that this Champions League qualifier is set to be broadcast live on free-to-air channel BBC Scotland.
That also means you’ll be able to stream the action online via BBC iPlayer, with coverage getting underway at 6:45 p.m. BST.
How to watch the UEFA Champions League qualifier online from anywhere using a VPN
If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the soccer action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. They can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
Can I livestream Panathinaikos vs. Rangers in the US, Canada or Australia?
No broadcaster has the rights to show this game live in any of these three regions.
That also means that if you’re in any of these countries traveling for pleasure or for work, you’re unlikely to be able to watch the game like you normally would at home, thanks to geoblocking.
There’s one option to get around this. By using a VPN, as explained above, you can set your location to a country where the match is being broadcast, and go from there.
Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League qualifiers using a VPN
- With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming soccer may vary.
- If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the «search for city or country» option.
- If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
- All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, because both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
- And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
