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The squads take the field into the noise, Hampden Park split down the middle into blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren in this stadium this December … the action begins.

Other Matches

More matches: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham vs Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the women's top division.

As for us, we're only five minutes away before the game begins at Hampden!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He previously officiated the 2024 cup final involving Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture in the last term where he showed four sending-offs and twelve cautions. Don't cross him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized in recent days that he's familiar with taking part in other major rivalries during his managerial journey, during his time at Bayern plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick took over, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. As well, in the EFL Championship in the Sheffield derby, I participated there too. I recognize the importance among the followers. This is more than just a game.

The German manager has also been lauding 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I feel a big respect for such a coaching career. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this business and you are successful.

I'm only starting out my professional journey. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point though the encouraging factor we begin level, distinct coaching generations and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this game.

I am very excited. I've gained some experience yet I foresee an enormous event this Sunday. To participate in such a match, the stakes are extremely high. Victory means reaching the final, you lose, you're out. I feel all elements converge for a magnificent contest.

Counterpart Perspective

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has recently been recalling about his first meeting against Rangers 25 years ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Well, replicating that might be extremely difficult, putting six past them versus that team. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph if we managed to secure it. Certain supporters approach and mention to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', and they weren't even born. They relate to me their ancestors and parents were talking about it. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not merely in that term, but possibly for sustained development.

The anxiety for approximately three days prior to the match, and then if you got the result, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This represents an important match for our club. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for our squad. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, but particularly given the conditions of recent times, if not weeks, definitely.

Coaching Background

Two new managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in derby experience among them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

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

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take a larger risk involving Robbie Keane. The title holders might choose to offer Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity of British football. These represent risks in their own way. More than O'Neill? This is arguable.

Starting Lineups

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

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

Marcelo Sarrachi begins instead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest also drops out of the XI that overcame 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 receives preference over Max Aarons on the right, including Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in central areas and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Preamble

Greetings and welcome to the Old Firm. It's got to be better {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus