🔗 Share this article

Match Coverage

The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden split down the middle into blue and green. For the opportunity to face St Mirren FC in this stadium this December … the action begins.

Other Football

Other football: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham v Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

Turning to this match, we're only five minutes away before the game begins at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh takes charge today. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers and a continental game last season where he showed four red cards and twelve cautions. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

The German coach: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has stated clearly this week that he's familiar with participating in other important local clashes in his coaching career, during his time at Bayern plus his stint at 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 when you triumph in such matches. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was involved in that as well. I recognize the importance to the supporters. This is more than just a game.

The 36-year-old German has been praising 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I think it is always great as a manager when you remain active for so many years in this business and you are successful.

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. There's much work remaining to achieve similar status though the encouraging factor we begin level, different generations and we'll observe what we can demonstrate via our selections in this game.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience but I expect an enormous event this Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, it's all or nothing. Success secures a final place, you lose, you're out. I believe all factors align for a magnificent contest.

Counterpart Perspective

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Now, repeating that performance could be very challenging, putting six past them against those opponents. I would accept a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Various individuals tell me and mention to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their ancestors and parents discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not only during that campaign, but possibly for sustained development.

The nervousness for about 72 hours beforehand, and subsequently if you achieved victory, tremendous relief. And I believe that's exactly the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that it was relief more than anything else. However these were magnificent contests really. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This is a big game for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Any Celtic-Rangers game constitutes a significant occasion, but particularly given the situation of the recent days, if not recent weeks, certainly.

Dugout History

Two fresh managers on the sidelines this afternoon but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage of his 28th.

Today's result could have a major impact on the duration O'Neill's second spell as stand-in Celtic coach continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They might consider a larger risk involving Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience of British football. These represent risks in their own way. More than O'Neill? This is arguable.

Starting Lineups

Celtic (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 features preferred to Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is also omitted from the first team that defeated Falkirk in midweek.

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 ahead 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 offensive positions.

Match Preview

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