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Match Coverage

The squads take the field into the noise, Hampden Park split down the middle between blue and green. To earn the chance to play St Mirren in this stadium next month … the action begins.

Other Matches

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham v Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the early kick-offs in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, we're only five minutes away before the start at Hampden!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle today. He also refereed the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match last season during which he issued four sending-offs and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

The Rangers manager: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the recently appointed boss has made it clear in recent days that he's familiar with being involved in other important local clashes in his coaching career, with Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We won 4-0. It consistently offers motivation if you win such a game. Furthermore, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I was also part [of it] there. I recognize the importance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

The German manager has also been lauding Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I feel a big respect for that type of coaching legacy. I think it is always great in this profession when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I'm only starting out of my career. There's much work remaining to reach that level however the positive aspect we start at 0-0, separate eras and we'll discover what we can bring through our squads in this game.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've gained some experience yet I foresee a massive occasion on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, it's all or nothing. Success secures a final place, you lose, you're out. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Counterpart Perspective

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has been reflecting this week concerning his debut match against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Now, repeating that performance might be extremely difficult, scoring six goals versus that team. I'd settle for a scrappy single-goal triumph if we could get it. Various individuals tell me and inform me: 'That was a great game', and they weren't even born. They tell me their grandfathers and fathers spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not just that season, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days prior to the match, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I think that's what the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. Yet these represented superb matches truly. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This is a big game for us. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Each encounter between these rivals constitutes a significant occasion, however specifically because of the circumstances of recent times, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Coaching Background

Two new managers on the sidelines this afternoon yet there's a substantial disparity in Old Firm experience among them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his 28th such match.

This match's conclusion may substantially affect regarding the tenure O'Neill's return as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has considered.

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They might consider a larger risk involving Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste in British football. These represent risks 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.

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

Marcelo Sarrachi features instead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest also drops out of the XI 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 receives preference ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, including Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored to Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Preamble

Good afternoon and welcome to this Old Firm clash. It should be improved {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus