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The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden divided in two into blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren here in December … the action begins.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the WSL.

Turning to this match, there's just over five minutes until kick-off at Hampden Park!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee today. He also refereed the 2024 cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a continental game in the last term where he showed four dismissals and 12 yellows. Don't cross him.

Coaching Perspectives

The Rangers manager: While this is his first Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has made it clear this week that he's used to being involved in other important local clashes in his coaching career, during his time at Bayern and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We secured a 4-0 victory. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

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

I feel a big respect for such a managerial journey. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and achieve success.

I'm only starting out my coaching path. There's much work remaining to reach that level but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, distinct coaching generations and we'll observe what we can contribute via our selections in this fixture.

I'm tremendously excited. I have had some experience but I expect an enormous event during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, everything is at stake. Victory means reaching the final, a loss ends your participation. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has this week been reminiscing regarding his initial encounter against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Well, replicating that could be very challenging, putting six past them against that side. I would take a scrappy single-goal triumph if we managed to secure it. Certain supporters approach and mention to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers were talking about it. It became a really pivotal match for our club, not merely in that term, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours before, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I believe that's exactly the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. Yet these represented superb matches really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our team. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Every Old Firm match represents a major event, though especially considering the situation of recent times, if not recent weeks, absolutely.

Coaching Background

Two new managers leading their teams today yet there's a substantial disparity in rivalry knowledge among them. Danny Röhl faces his debut leading Rangers whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his twenty-eighth.

The outcome today may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

They could potentially invest five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They may attempt a larger risk with Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste within British soccer. These are all gambles in different manners. More than O'Neill? This is debatable.

First XIs

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 starts preferred to Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI that defeated Falkirk in their recent match.

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

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

James Tavernier gets the nod instead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in attack.

Opening Context

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