HEAT IS ALL ON GREEKS

Diomande shrugs off rival's taunts

- By Fraser Wilson in Athens

MOHAMED DIOMANDE is confident Rangers will put out Panathinaikos’ flame and pass another red-hot test in one of Europe’s most volatile arenas.

Diomande insists there’s no fear of blowing their two-goal lead in tonight’s Champions League second qualifying round crunch in Athens’ Olympic Stadium.

Not after coming through last season’s incendiary clashes with Olympiacos and Fenerbahce on their way to the Europa League quarterfinal.

The midfielder excelled in a 1-1 draw against the side that would go on to become Greek champions and then a 3-1 win that dumped Jose Mourinho in the Turkish side’s version of hell.

So Diomande wasn’t buying it when Panathianaikos boss Rui Vitoria attempted to get into Rangers’ heads yesterday afternoon by warning that no visiting team finds it easy against his side.

He is confident his teammates have the character required to handle whatever is thrown at them, maybe even literally, and stick devoutly to the game plan.

The Greeks might be lodging at the magnificent 70,000 stadium meaning their notorious ‘Gate 13’ ultras are off home territory — but Vitoria, right, insists a “hot atmosphere” still awaits.

But asked if he was confident the Rangers players would cut through the mind games and produce another big result on foreign soil, Diomande said: “Yes, we have prepared really well and we are ready to deliver.