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The players head out into the noise, Hampden separated evenly with blue and green sections. For the right to face St Mirren FC at this venue next month … the action begins.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the WSL.

Regarding our coverage, we're only five minutes away until kick-off at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals plus a European fixture last season during which he issued four dismissals and twelve cautions. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

The German coach: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has made it clear in recent days that he's familiar with being involved in other major rivalries as a coach, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick assumed control, our following match took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We won 4-0. It is always a booster when you triumph in such matches. As well, in the EFL Championship during the Steel City derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means for the fans. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I feel a big respect for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point though the encouraging factor we begin level, separate eras and we'll discover what we can bring via our selections in this encounter.

I am very excited. I've gained some experience though I anticipate an enormous event on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, it's all or nothing. You win, you go into the final, defeat means elimination. I think everything is on for an outstanding match.

Opposition Manager

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter versus their rivals a quarter-century ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Well, replicating that could be very challenging, scoring six goals against that side. I'd settle for an unattractive 1-0 win if we managed to secure it. Certain supporters approach and inform me: 'That was an amazing match', and they weren't even born. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The nervousness for about 72 hours beforehand, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I think that's what the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches truly. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our team. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's an important game for our squad. Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, though especially considering the conditions of recent times, if not recent weeks, certainly.

Dugout History

Two fresh managers leading their teams today but there's a big gap in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as the Rangers boss whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion might significantly influence on how long O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They might consider an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste in British football. These are all gambles in different manners. Beyond O'Neill? This is debatable.

Starting Lineups

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 features ahead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is also omitted from the first team that defeated 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 instead of Max Aarons on the right, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in central areas and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

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