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Match Coverage

The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park divided in two into blue and green. For the opportunity to face St Mirren here this December … it all kicks off.

Other Football

Additional games: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham v Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the women's top division.

Regarding our coverage, there's just over five minutes until kick-off at Hampden Park!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match last season where he showed four red cards and twelve cautions. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

The Rangers manager: While this is his first Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized in recent days that he's used to taking part in other important local clashes in his coaching career, during his time at Bayern plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick took over, our following match was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It always provides a lift when you triumph in such matches. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship in the Steel derby, I was also part [of it] there. I understand the significance among the followers. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I think it is always great as a manager when you work so long in this industry and you are successful.

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point though the encouraging factor we begin level, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can demonstrate through our squads in this fixture.

I'm tremendously excited. I've accumulated certain experiences but I expect a massive occasion this Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, you lose, you're out. I believe all factors align for a great, great game.

Opposition Manager

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting versus their rivals a quarter-century ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Well, replicating that may prove quite arduous, scoring six goals versus that team. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory if we could get it. Certain supporters approach and say to me: 'That was a great game', despite not being born at the time. They relate to me their ancestors and parents were talking about it. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our team, not merely in that term, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours before, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I believe that's exactly the renowned Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches really. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our team. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Each encounter between these rivals represents a major event, but particularly given the situation of the recent days, if not recent weeks, certainly.

Coaching Background

Two fresh managers leading their teams today though there's a significant difference in rivalry knowledge between them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his twenty-eighth.

Today's result may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's comeback as stand-in Celtic coach lasts, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

Celtic could pay £5m in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a debut opportunity within British soccer. These represent risks to varying degrees. Beyond O'Neill? This remains questionable.

Team Selections

Celtic (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 starts instead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is also omitted from the starting lineup that beat Falkirk in midweek.

Rangers FC (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 ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Preamble

Good afternoon and welcome to this derby match. It ought to be superior {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus