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The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park divided in two between blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren FC in this stadium in December … here we go.

Additional Fixtures

Additional games: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham vs Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the day's opening matches in the WSL.

As for us, there's just over five minutes before the start at the national stadium!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this match. He was also the referee for the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match last season when he distributed four dismissals and 12 yellows. Steer clear of confrontation.

Manager Insights

The Rangers manager: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has emphasized in recent days that he's familiar with being involved in other significant derbies in his coaching career, during his time at Bayern and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We won 4-0. It is always a booster following success in these encounters. Additionally, in England's second tier during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance for the fans. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I hold great admiration for such a managerial journey. I think it is always great as a manager when you remain active for so many years in this field and achieve success.

I'm only starting out my professional journey. There's much work remaining to come to this point but the good thing is we start at 0-0, different generations and let's see what we can bring via our selections in this encounter.

I am very excited. I've gained some experience yet I foresee an enormous event this Sunday. To participate in such a match, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has this week been reminiscing regarding his initial encounter versus their rivals a quarter-century ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Now, repeating that performance may prove quite arduous, scoring six goals versus that team. I'd settle for a scrappy single-goal triumph if we could get it. Certain supporters approach and inform me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', despite not being born at the time. They tell me their ancestors and parents spoke about it regularly. It became a really pivotal match for our team, not only during that campaign, but possibly for sustained development.

The anxiety for approximately three days beforehand, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I believe that's exactly the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our club. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final, it's a crucial contest for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, however specifically because of the conditions of the recent days, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Dugout History

Two fresh managers leading their teams today but there's a big gap in rivalry knowledge among them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge of his 28th.

Today's result may substantially affect regarding the tenure O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager lasts, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

They could potentially invest five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They may attempt a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The title holders might choose to offer Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste of British football. These are all gambles in different manners. Beyond O'Neill? This is arguable.

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 ahead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that beat 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 ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in central areas and Thelo Aasgaard preferred instead of Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Match Preview

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