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The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park divided in two between blue and green. For the opportunity to face St Mirren FC in this stadium next month … here we go.

Other Matches

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the early kick-offs in the women's top division.

Regarding our coverage, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at Hampden!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game the previous campaign when he distributed four dismissals and 12 yellows. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has stated clearly this week that he's familiar with participating in other major rivalries during his managerial journey, with Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember when Hansi Flick took over, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We won 4-0. It always provides a lift if you win such a game. Additionally, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I was involved in that as well. I recognize the importance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

The 36-year-old German has been complimenting the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I hold great admiration for such a managerial journey. I believe it's always impressive in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this industry and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning of my career. I have substantial work ahead to achieve similar status though the encouraging factor we begin level, separate eras and we'll observe what we can demonstrate through our squads in this encounter.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've accumulated certain experiences yet I foresee a big, big one during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, the stakes are extremely high. You win, you go into the final, you lose, you're out. I believe all factors align for an outstanding match.

Counterpart Perspective

The Celtic manager: The stand-in manager has been reflecting this week regarding his initial encounter with Rangers two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Certainly, matching that achievement may prove quite arduous, netting six times against that side. I would accept a really lousy 1-0 victory if we managed to secure it. Some lads come up and inform me: 'That was a great game', despite not being born at the time. They relate to me their grandfathers and fathers were talking about it. It became a really pivotal match for our team, not just that season, but likely for future progress.

The nervousness for about 72 hours prior to the match, and then should you secure success, tremendous relief. And I think that's what the legendary Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures truly. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This is a big game for us. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's a big match for our side. Each encounter between these rivals constitutes a significant occasion, though especially considering the situation of the recent days, possibly even months, absolutely.

Managerial Experience

Two different coaches in the dugouts today yet there's a substantial disparity in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his twenty-eighth.

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

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They might consider an even bigger gamble 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 (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 instead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that beat Falkirk during the week.

Rangers FC (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 is selected ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, with Mohamed Diomande coming in taking Connor Barron's suspended place in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard chosen instead of Mikey Moore in attack.

Preamble

Greetings and welcome to the Old Firm. It ought to be superior {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus