RANGERS' UEFA Cup last 32 clash against Panathinakos has finished goalless but Walter Smith's team can be confident of going out to Athens and getting the result they need which will take the club through to the next round of the tournament.

The Light Blues dominated proceedings from start to finish but came up against a resilient defence and an in-form keeper that denied the home side on more than one occasion.

At the other end, the Greek league leaders failed to really test Gers' No. 1 Allan McGregor and a clean sheet at Ibrox will give the Gers' players confidence ahead of next week's crucial second-leg.

Smith elected to give Steven Davis his Rangers' debut this evening and the Northern Ireland international was effective in the centre of midfield alongside Brahim Hemdani and captain Barry Ferguson.

The Gers' gaffer reverted back to his favoured 4-5-1 Euro formation with Sasa Papac slotting in at left-back in place of Steven Whittaker who was out with a hamstring strain.

Lee McCulloch and Ferguson started the match in front of a capacity crowd and the away support, as expected, were vociferous from the kick-off.

It was the home team, however, that were to have the first attempt on goal after only two minute when Davis played in Novo but the Spaniard's low shot was easily gathered by Mario Galinovis in the Panathinaikos goal.

The visitors were to respond with a couple of long range efforts, most notably from Marcelo De Mattos who blazed over the bar from 35 yards.

Davis was clearly out to impress but he was to show a bit too much enthusiasm when he produced a high challenge on left-back Loukas Vitra.

Referee Nicola Rizzoli, however, had a word in the player's ear without producing a yellow card.

The on-loan playmaker was again in the thick of the action minutes later when his low drive from 25 yards was palmed away by Galinovic although Lee McCulloch had already been ruled offside.

The first real goalscoring opportunity of the match was to come Rangers way on 29 minutes.

Allan McGregor played a long ball up field and McCulloch's deft head flick found Novo scampering beyond the Panathinaikos rear guard.

The Spanaird was to reach the all before the diving Galinovic but the keeper managed to gather his tame effort.

Novo was again clear through on goal on 34 minutes but after having being found by a neat Adam pass was unable to control the ball in the 18-yard box.

Nacho was proving to be Rangers' main threat in the first half and again he should have done better on 42 minutes when another chance came his way.

Ferguson played a raking 50 yard pass over the Panathinaikos defence which Novo latched on to having cut inside from the right flank.

His first touch was perfect as it took him through on goal but his second was well saved by the keeper who dived at his feet to deny Rangers the opening goal.

Smith made no changes to his team for the start of the second-half but with the game sitting goalless at the interval it was not surprising to see the home side come out with renewed purpose.

On 47 minutes an in-swinging corner from Charlie Adam found McCulloch but his powerful header was to go inches wide of target in front of the Copland Road Stand.

The visitor's, however, were to respond well to the early pressure and Allan McGregor had to be alive to save a speculative effort from Vintra from long-range.

Kirk Broadfoot, who again had an excellent 90 minutes at right-back, then made his first and only error in the game minutes later when he brought down Georgios Karagounis 30 yards out but Davie Weir was there to clear the resulting free-kick.

Pana boss Jose Peseiro was to make his first tactical change on 66 minutes when former Spurs' striker Helder Postiga replaced Dimitrios Salpingidis.

At the same time Walter Smith then elected to make a surprise substitution of his own when Daniel Cousin, who is currently in the midst of a £3 million move to Fulham, was thrown on in place of Charlie Adam.

The Gabon international was given a luke warm reception from sections of the Gers support but the majority got behind the striker on his long-awaited return to the team.

In the minutes that followed Rangers again should have taken the lead when a Barry Fergsuon shot was parried by Galinovic and McCulloch's sclaffed effort from six yards from the rebound was again pushed by the post by the busy keeper.

Cousin then tried his luck from 15 yards with a powerful header which flew wide of the target after good wide play from Broadfoot.

Dame N'Doye was always expected to be a threat for the Greeks and he gave the home support a fright on 80 minutes when Allan McGregor palmed a cross into his path but the keeper was quick to get back to his feet and block his second attempt.

This was to be the last attempt on goal for either team in what was a tight, and often frustrating, European night in Glasgow with either team failing to produce top form.

Rangers, however, must be confident on scoring away from home next week and on the number of chances they created tonight they will be disappointed not to have their noses in front already.

Man of the Match: Carlos Cuellar