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Match Coverage

The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park divided in two with blue and green sections. For the opportunity to face St Mirren FC here next month … the action begins.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham vs Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, there's just over five minutes before the start at Hampden!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh takes charge this afternoon. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals plus a European fixture the previous campaign when he distributed four sending-offs and 12 yellows. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

The German coach: While this is his first Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized this week that he's used to participating in other important local clashes in his coaching career, during his time at Bayern and Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember when Hansi Flick assumed control, our following match was versus Dortmund at home. We won 4-0. It consistently offers motivation following success in these encounters. Additionally, in the EFL Championship in the Steel derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance to the supporters. This represents more than a simple match.

The young coach has also been lauding the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I have tremendous respect for such a managerial journey. I think it is always great as a manager when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and you are successful.

I'm only starting out of my career. There's much work remaining to come to this point though the encouraging factor we begin level, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can bring via our selections in this game.

I am very excited. I've accumulated certain experiences but I expect a big, big one on Sunday. To be part of such a game, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Opposition Manager

The Celtic manager: The stand-in manager has this week been reminiscing concerning his debut match with Rangers 25 years ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Well, replicating that could be very challenging, putting six past them versus that team. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory if we managed to secure it. Some lads come up and mention to me: 'That was an amazing match', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their family members spoke about it regularly. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our team, not merely in that term, but possibly for sustained development.

The tension for nearly 72 hours beforehand, and subsequently if you achieved victory, tremendous relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that relief outweighed other emotions. However these were magnificent contests really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's an important game for our side. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, however specifically because of the conditions of the recent days, if not weeks, certainly.

Coaching Background

Two new managers on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in Old Firm experience separating them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion could have a major impact regarding the tenure O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss persists, as Ewan Murray has considered.

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They may attempt an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions might choose to offer Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a debut opportunity of British football. These represent risks in different manners. Even more than O'Neill? This is debatable.

Team Selections

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

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

Marcelo Sarrachi begins instead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is also omitted from the first team that defeated Falkirk in midweek.

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 receives preference ahead of Max Aarons on the right, with Mohamed Diomande coming in replacing the banned Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard chosen over Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Preamble

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