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The squads take the field amid the roar, Hampden Park divided in two into blue and green. To earn the chance to play St Mirren here in December … the action begins.

Other Matches

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham v Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the WSL.

Regarding our coverage, there's just over five minutes before the start at the national stadium!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He was also the referee for the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a Europa League match the previous campaign where he showed four dismissals and 12 yellows. Don't cross him.

Coaching Perspectives

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the recently appointed boss has emphasized in recent days that he's accustomed to being involved in other significant derbies as a coach, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember when Hansi Flick took over, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We secured a 4-0 victory. It consistently offers motivation following success in these encounters. Additionally, in the Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means for the fans. This is more than just a game.

The German manager has been complimenting the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I feel a big respect for such a coaching career. I believe it's always impressive in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this business and accomplish your objectives.

I am just at the beginning my coaching path. There's much work remaining to come to this point but the good thing is we begin level, different generations and we'll discover what we can contribute with our teams in this game.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've gained some experience though I anticipate a massive occasion during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, the stakes are extremely high. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I think everything is on for an outstanding match.

Counterpart Perspective

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter against Rangers 25 years ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Certainly, matching that achievement may prove quite arduous, scoring six goals versus that team. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph if we could get it. Various individuals tell me and mention to me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They relate to me their family members were talking about it. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The tension for nearly 72 hours beforehand, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I feel that's precisely the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This represents an important match for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for our side. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, but particularly given the circumstances of recent times, possibly even months, certainly.

Dugout History

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in derby experience separating them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage of his 28th.

Today's result might significantly influence on the duration O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager persists, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They could take an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity in British football. These are all gambles to varying degrees. Even more than O'Neill? This is arguable.

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 starts preferred to Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is additionally excluded of the XI that beat Falkirk during the week.

Rangers (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 instead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in central areas and Thelo Aasgaard chosen to Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

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