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Live Updates

The players head out amid the roar, Hampden Park separated evenly into blue and green. For the right to play St Mirren here next month … here we go.

Other Football

Additional games: John Brewin provides live updates for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the initial games in the women's top division.

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

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He previously officiated the 2024 cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game last season during which he issued four red cards and twelve cautions. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

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 used to participating in other important local clashes as a coach, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I can remember when Hansi Flick took over, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It is always a booster following success in these encounters. As well, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I was also part [of it] there. I understand the significance to the supporters. This is more than just a game.

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

I feel a big respect for such a coaching career. I think it is always great in this profession when you work so long in this industry and achieve success.

I'm merely commencing my professional journey. I have substantial work ahead to reach that level however the positive aspect we commence evenly matched, separate eras and we'll discover what we can demonstrate with our teams in this fixture.

I'm tremendously excited. I've accumulated certain experiences yet I foresee a massive occasion during Sunday's match. To be involved in this fixture, the stakes are extremely high. Victory means reaching the final, you lose, you're out. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The temporary Celtic boss has recently been recalling about his first meeting against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance might be extremely difficult, scoring six goals against that side. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Certain supporters approach and mention to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their family members spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not just that season, but possibly for sustained development.

The tension for nearly 72 hours before, and subsequently if you achieved victory, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that relief outweighed other emotions. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This is a big game for our club. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, though especially considering the conditions of the recent days, possibly even months, certainly.

Coaching Background

Two new managers leading their teams today but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience among them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his 28th such match.

The outcome today might significantly influence on how long O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss lasts, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

They could potentially invest £5m in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They might consider an even bigger gamble with Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions could decide to provide Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity in British football. These constitute chances to varying degrees. 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.

Reserves: 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 of the XI that overcame Falkirk during the week.

Rangers (3-4-3): Butland; Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius; Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma; Aasgaard, Chermiti, Danilo.

Subs: Kelly, Aarons, Fernández, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

James Tavernier is selected ahead of Max Aarons on the right side, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to Mikey Moore in attack.

Preamble

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