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Match Coverage

The players head out to a thunderous reception, Hampden split down the middle into blue and green. For the right to meet St Mirren in this stadium this December … it all kicks off.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham vs Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the WSL.

Turning to this match, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee today. He also refereed last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals plus a European fixture the previous campaign during which he issued four dismissals and twelve cautions. Steer clear of confrontation.

Coaching Perspectives

The Rangers manager: While this is his first Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has made it clear this week that he's familiar with participating in other significant derbies as a coach, at Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick assumed control, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It is always a booster when you triumph in such matches. As well, in the EFL Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was involved in that as well. I recognize the importance among the followers. This is more than just a game.

The young coach has been praising 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I consider it consistently remarkable for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this business and you are successful.

I'm merely commencing my professional journey. I have substantial work ahead to achieve similar status but the good thing is we begin level, distinct coaching generations and we'll discover what we can demonstrate with our teams in this encounter.

I am very excited. I have had some experience yet I foresee a big, big one on Sunday. To participate in such a match, everything is at stake. Success secures a final place, defeat means elimination. I think everything is on for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

The Celtic manager: The temporary Celtic boss has been reflecting this week regarding his initial encounter against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Certainly, matching that achievement could be very challenging, scoring six goals against that side. I would accept an unattractive 1-0 win should we achieve it. Some lads come up and mention to me: 'That was a great game', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their family members discussed it frequently. It became a really pivotal match for us, not just that season, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours beforehand, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I believe that's exactly the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that relief outweighed other emotions. Yet these represented superb matches truly. 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 big match for our squad. Any Celtic-Rangers game constitutes a significant occasion, but particularly given the circumstances of the past few days, if not weeks, absolutely.

Coaching Background

Two new managers in the dugouts today yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience among them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his twenty-eighth.

Today's result might significantly influence on how long O'Neill's return as stand-in Celtic coach lasts, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

The club might spend £5m in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They could take a more significant chance with Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions might choose to offer Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience in British football. These represent risks in their own way. Beyond O'Neill? This is debatable.

First XIs

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 begins instead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the first team that overcame Falkirk in their recent match.

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 gets the nod over Max Aarons on the right side, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in central areas with Thelo Aasgaard favored over Mikey Moore in attack.

Opening Context

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