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Match Coverage

The teams emerge amid the roar, Hampden divided in two between blue and green. To earn the chance to meet St Mirren FC at this venue this December … it all kicks off.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the early kick-offs in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, approximately five minutes remain before the start at Hampden!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this afternoon. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture last season when he distributed four dismissals and a dozen bookings. Steer clear of confrontation.

Coaching Perspectives

The German coach: While this is his first Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized in recent days that he's accustomed to taking part in other major rivalries as a coach, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick assumed control, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We won 4-0. It is always a booster following success in these encounters. As well, in the EFL Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means for the fans. This is more than just a game.

The young coach has been complimenting 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I have tremendous respect for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable for a coach when you work so long in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I'm merely commencing of my career. There's much work remaining to reach that level but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, different generations and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this fixture.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've accumulated certain experiences but I expect a big, big one during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, the stakes are extremely high. Success secures a final place, a loss ends your participation. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

The Celtic manager: The stand-in manager has this week been reminiscing concerning his debut match versus their rivals two and a half decades past, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Now, repeating that performance may prove quite arduous, scoring six goals against those opponents. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory if we could get it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They tell me their grandfathers and fathers spoke about it regularly. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our team, not just that season, but possibly for sustained development.

The anxiety for approximately three days prior to the match, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This is a big game for our club. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, however specifically because of the situation of the past few days, possibly even months, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two different coaches on the sidelines this afternoon yet there's a substantial disparity in Old Firm experience separating them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as the Rangers boss whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee of his 28th.

The outcome today may substantially affect on the duration O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss persists, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

They could potentially invest five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They may attempt a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge an initial experience of British football. These are all gambles in their own way. Beyond O'Neill? This remains questionable.

Team Selections

Celtic (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 features preferred to Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest also drops out of the XI that overcame Falkirk during the week.

Rangers (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 side, with Mohamed Diomande coming in replacing the banned Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in attack.

Preamble

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