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The teams emerge amid the roar, Hampden Park separated evenly into blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren here this December … it all kicks off.

Other Matches

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the early kick-offs in the women's top division.

Turning to this match, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at Hampden Park!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers and a Europa League match in the last term where he showed four sending-offs and 12 yellows. Don't cross him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has stated clearly in recent days that he's familiar with participating in other important local clashes in his coaching career, during his time at Bayern and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation following success in these encounters. As well, in England's second tier during the Steel City derby, I was also part [of it] there. I recognize the importance among the followers. This is more than just a game.

The young coach has been praising the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I hold great admiration for such a managerial journey. I consider it consistently remarkable for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this business and accomplish your objectives.

I'm merely commencing of my career. There's much work remaining to achieve similar status however the positive aspect we commence evenly matched, separate eras and we'll observe what we can contribute with our teams in this encounter.

I'm tremendously excited. I have had some experience yet I foresee a massive occasion on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, everything is at stake. You win, you go into the final, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The stand-in manager has been reflecting this week about his first meeting against Rangers two and a half decades past, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Well, replicating that may prove quite arduous, putting six past them versus that team. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph should we achieve it. Some lads come up and mention to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', and they weren't even born. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers were talking about it. It became a really pivotal match for our team, not only during that campaign, but likely for future progress.

The nervousness for about 72 hours beforehand, and then if you got the result, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the legendary Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This represents an important match for our team. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for our squad. Every Old Firm match represents a major event, but particularly given the situation of the recent days, possibly even months, absolutely.

Managerial Experience

Two different coaches on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in rivalry knowledge among them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage of his 28th.

Today's result may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager lasts, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

The club might spend £5m in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They might consider an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The title holders might choose to offer Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen an initial experience of British football. These represent risks in their own way. Even more than O'Neill? This is debatable.

Starting Lineups

Celtic FC (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Sarrachi; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Maeda, Kenny, Tounekti.

Substitutes: Sinisalo, Balikwisha, Yang, Osmand, McCowan, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Tierney.

Marcelo Sarrachi begins instead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest also drops out from the first team that defeated Falkirk in their recent match.

Rangers FC (3-4-3): Butland; Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius; Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma; Aasgaard, Chermiti, Danilo.

Reserves: Kelly, Aarons, Fernández, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

James Tavernier is selected over Max Aarons on the right, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in central areas with Thelo Aasgaard favored over Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Preamble

Greetings and welcome to this derby match. It ought to be superior {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus