By Keir Murray

Novo came close to scoring for Rangers on several occasions

Rangers were unable to register a home victory over Panathinaikos in the Uefa Cup last 32, first-leg tie.

Manager Walter Smith recalled Nacho Novo to the team and he tested keeper Mario Galinovic on several occasions.

The Greeks were limited by an obdurate Rangers defence to an early shot by Marcelo de Mattos and late efforts by striker Dame Ndoye.

Daniel Cousin came on for Charlie Adam as Rangers tried to take a lead to Athens, but Galinovic was in top form.

Interview: Rangers manager Walter Smith

Interview: Rangers keeper Allan McGregor

It may not be the latter stages of the Champions League, but Rangers showed plenty of appetite for the tournament into which they were parachuted from Europe's elite club competition.

Rangers manager Walter Smith surprised many with his starting eleven.

Kirk Broadfoot came in at right-back for the injured Steven Whittaker, Nacho Novo was chosen for the right-midfield berth, and on-loan Fulham midfielder Steve Davis made his debut.

The Greeks, ever comfortable in possession, had Rangers on the back foot in the sixth minute when de Mattos dispatched a left-footed drive over Allan McGregor's bar.

Charlie Adam progressed down the left and into the box on 18 minutes. The clearance by Ioannis Goumas fell to Davis, whose 25-yard low shot through a cluster of players Mario Galinovic did well to parry.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Are Rangers good enough to progress to the last 16 of the Uefa Cup?

As the half hour approached, Novo anticipated the flick-on from McCulloch, racing through the middle and beyond the dithering Goumas, but the eager striker couldn't angle his shot away from Galinovic.

The Panathinaikos keeper denied the Spanish striker just before half-time.

On-loan Fulham midfielder Steve Davis made his debut for Rangers

Davis directed a long diagonal ball from his own half down the right channel, Novo controlled it beautifully and his shot rebounded off the legs of Galinovic.

Rangers started the second half brightly, Novo's inviting cross causing Mikael Nilsson to concede a corner under pressure.

McCulloch won the battle to connect with Adam's inswinger, but his powerful header whizzed inches wide of the target.

Both sides tried to invigorate their attack with a quarter of the match remaining. Helder Postiga took to the field, replacing Dimitrios Salpigidis, while Fulham-bound Daniel Cousin came on for Rangers' Charlie Adam.

Galinovic parried a thumping left-foot volley from Barry Ferguson and was focused seconds later to deny Novo once more.

Dame Ndoye caused consternation among the home support twice in as many minutes. In the 80th minute he spun at the edge of the box and skewed a shot wide of McGregor's left-hand post.

Having found his range, he stabbed a shot goal bound, which the Gers keeper punched away.

Like Rangers, Panathinaikos top their domestic league, and the return leg promises to be a close affair.

The victors of the tie, which will be decided on Thursday 21 February, will play Werder Bremen or Sporting Braga in the last 16.

Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Novo (Burke 81), Ferguson, Davis, Hemdani, Adam (Cousin 67), McCulloch.
Subs Not Used: Alexander, Boyd, Dailly, Naismith, Faye.

Panathinaikos: Galinovic, Nilsson, Morris, Goumas, Vyntra, Ndoye, Tziolis, Mattos, Simao, Karagounis, Salpigidis (Postiga 66).
Subs Not Used: Malarz, Ninis, Gonzalez, Papadopoulos, Seric, Ivanschitz.

Booked: Simao, Nilsson.

Attendance: 45,203

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).