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The players head out to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park split down the middle into blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren FC at this venue in December … here we go.

Other Football

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham v Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

As for us, approximately five minutes remain before the game begins at the national stadium!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a continental game last season where he showed four red cards and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Manager Insights

The Rangers manager: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized in recent days that he's used to taking part in other major rivalries in his coaching career, at Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick assumed control, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation if you win such a game. As well, in the EFL Championship during the Steel City derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means 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 that type of coaching legacy. I believe it's always impressive as a manager when you remain active for so many years in this industry and achieve success.

I'm only starting out my professional journey. There's much work remaining to come to this point though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, different generations and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this encounter.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience yet I foresee a big, big one during Sunday's match. To be involved in this fixture, everything is at stake. Success secures a final place, a loss ends your participation. I believe all factors align for a magnificent contest.

Counterpart Perspective

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has been reflecting this week about his first meeting versus their rivals a quarter-century ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Now, repeating that performance could be very challenging, netting six times against that side. I would accept a really lousy 1-0 victory if we could get it. Various individuals tell me and inform me: 'That was an amazing match', and they weren't even born. They tell me their ancestors and parents were talking about it. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not merely in that term, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours prior to the match, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I think that's what the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that relief outweighed other emotions. Yet these represented superb matches genuinely. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This represents an important match for our team. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a last-four clash, it's a big match for our side. Any Celtic-Rangers game constitutes a significant occasion, however specifically because of the situation of the past few days, if not weeks, definitely.

Managerial Experience

Two fresh managers on the sidelines this afternoon yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience among them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

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

Celtic could pay substantial compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They might consider a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity of British football. These are all gambles in their own way. Even more than O'Neill? This is arguable.

First XIs

Celtic FC (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 instead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk in midweek.

Rangers FC (3-4-3): Butland; Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius; Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma; Aasgaard, Chermiti, Danilo.

Subs: Kelly, Aarons, Fernández, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

James Tavernier is selected over Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard chosen to Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

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