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Match Coverage

The squads take the field into the noise, Hampden Park divided in two with blue and green sections. To earn the chance to meet St Mirren in this stadium in December … here we go.

Other Football

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham vs Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the women's top division.

As for us, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at Hampden!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this afternoon. He was also the referee for the 2024 cup final featuring these two rivals plus a European fixture the previous campaign when he distributed four red cards and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

The Rangers manager: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has emphasized recently that he's familiar with being involved in other important local clashes during his managerial journey, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick took over, our second game was versus Dortmund at home. We won 4-0. It is always a booster when you triumph in such matches. Furthermore, in the Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was involved in that as well. I know what it means among the followers. This transcends ordinary football.

The 36-year-old German has been praising Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I have tremendous respect for such a coaching career. I believe it's always impressive as a manager when you sustain your career over decades in this business and accomplish your objectives.

I'm only starting out my coaching path. I have a lot of work to do to achieve similar status though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, different generations and we'll discover what we can contribute via our selections in this game.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience yet I foresee a massive occasion this Sunday. To be part of such a game, the stakes are extremely high. You win, you go into the final, a loss ends your participation. I think everything is on for a magnificent contest.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The temporary Celtic boss has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Now, repeating that performance may prove quite arduous, putting six past them versus that team. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph if we could get it. Some lads come up and say to me: 'That was a great game', and they weren't even born. They relate to me their ancestors and parents spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not just that season, but likely for future progress.

The anxiety for approximately three days beforehand, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our club. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for our squad. Every Old Firm match is a big game, but particularly given the situation of recent times, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Managerial Experience

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today though there's a significant difference in derby experience separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as the Rangers boss whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee of his 28th.

The outcome today could have a major impact regarding the tenure O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss continues, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They could take a larger risk on Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a debut opportunity in British football. These represent risks 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 begins instead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that defeated Falkirk in their recent match.

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

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

James Tavernier receives preference ahead of Max Aarons on the right side, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard chosen to Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Preamble

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