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Match Coverage

The teams emerge amid the roar, Hampden Park separated evenly into blue and green. For the opportunity to meet St Mirren here in December … here we go.

Additional Fixtures

More matches: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham vs Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the women's top division.

Turning to this match, there's just over five minutes before the game begins at Hampden Park!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He also refereed last year's Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a Europa League match the previous campaign where he showed four sending-offs and 12 yellows. Don't cross him.

Coaching Perspectives

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has emphasized recently that he's used to taking part in other major rivalries during his managerial journey, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick took over, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We secured a 4-0 victory. It is always a booster when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in the Championship in the Sheffield derby, I participated there too. I recognize the importance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

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

I feel a big respect for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable for a coach when you remain active for so many years in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point though the encouraging factor we begin level, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can bring via our selections in this game.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've accumulated certain experiences but I expect a big, big one this Sunday. To participate in such a match, the stakes are extremely high. You win, you go into the final, a loss ends your participation. I think everything is on for a magnificent contest.

Opposition Manager

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter versus their rivals 25 years ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Well, replicating that may prove quite arduous, netting six times against those opponents. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Some lads come up and mention to me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers discussed it frequently. It became a really pivotal match for us, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The nervousness for about 72 hours beforehand, and then if you got the result, 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's still a fantastic fixture.

This is a big game for our club. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a last-four clash, it's an important game for our side. Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, but particularly given the circumstances of the recent days, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Dugout History

Two different coaches on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in Old Firm experience separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut leading Rangers whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his twenty-eighth.

Today's result may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss continues, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

The club might spend £5m in compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They might consider a larger risk on Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge an initial experience in British football. These represent risks in their own way. More than 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 additionally excluded of the XI that defeated Falkirk in their recent match.

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 is selected over Max Aarons on the right side, with Mohamed Diomande coming in for the suspended Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in attack.

Opening Context

Greetings and welcome to the Old Firm. It ought to be superior {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus