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The squads take the field into the noise, Hampden separated evenly between blue and green. For the right to meet St Mirren in this stadium in December … here we go.

Other Football

Other football: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham vs Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

Turning to this match, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at Hampden Park!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this match. He also refereed the 2024 cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match in the last term when he distributed four dismissals and twelve cautions. Avoid challenging him.

Coaching Perspectives

The German coach: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized recently that he's used to taking part in other major rivalries as a coach, during his time at Bayern and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect during Hansi Flick's appointment, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It always provides a lift if you win such a game. As well, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I was involved in that as well. I know what it means to the supporters. This is more than just a game.

The 36-year-old German has been complimenting 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I believe it's always impressive in this profession when you work so long in this industry and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning of my career. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point though the encouraging factor we start at 0-0, distinct coaching generations and we'll observe what we can contribute with our teams in this game.

I am very excited. I have had some experience yet I foresee an enormous event on Sunday. To be part of such a game, everything is at stake. You win, you go into the final, a loss ends your participation. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

The Celtic manager: The temporary Celtic boss has recently been recalling about his first meeting against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Well, replicating that may prove quite arduous, putting six past them against those opponents. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory if we managed to secure it. Some lads come up and inform me: 'That was an amazing match', though they weren't alive then. They relate to me their family members discussed it frequently. It became a really pivotal match for our club, not merely in that term, but possibly for sustained development.

The tension for nearly 72 hours beforehand, and then if you got the result, significant comfort. And I believe that's exactly the legendary Walter Smith often mentioned too, that relief outweighed other emotions. 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 last-four clash, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Every Old Firm match represents a major event, though especially considering the circumstances of recent times, if not weeks, definitely.

Coaching Background

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience separating them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion might significantly influence on the duration O'Neill's second spell as stand-in Celtic coach lasts, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend substantial compensation to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They could take an even bigger gamble on Robbie Keane. The title holders might choose to offer Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity in British football. These constitute chances in different manners. More than O'Neill? This remains questionable.

Team Selections

Celtic FC (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 starts preferred to Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk during the week.

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 gets the nod ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, with Mohamed Diomande coming in for the suspended Connor Barron in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored to Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Match Preview

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