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Match Coverage

The players head out amid the roar, Hampden Park divided in two with blue and green sections. For the opportunity to meet St Mirren at this venue this December … the action begins.

Additional Fixtures

Additional games: John Brewin provides live updates for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, we're only five minutes away until kick-off at Hampden!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle today. He also refereed the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a continental game last season when he distributed four sending-offs and a dozen bookings. Steer clear of confrontation.

Coaching Perspectives

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the recently appointed boss has made it clear in recent days that he's familiar with being involved in other significant derbies in his coaching career, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We secured a 4-0 victory. It always provides a lift following success in these encounters. As well, in England's second tier during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance among the followers. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I hold great admiration for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you work so long in this business and you are successful.

I'm merely commencing my professional journey. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point however the positive aspect we begin level, separate eras and we'll observe what we can demonstrate via our selections in this game.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience yet I foresee an enormous event on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, it's all or nothing. You win, you go into the final, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Counterpart Perspective

The Celtic manager: The stand-in manager has recently been recalling about his first meeting versus their rivals two and a half decades past, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Certainly, matching that achievement could be very challenging, putting six past them versus that team. I would take a scrappy single-goal triumph should we achieve it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They relate to me their ancestors and parents were talking about it. It became a really pivotal match for our team, not only during that campaign, but likely for future progress.

The anxiety for approximately three days prior to the match, and then should you secure success, significant comfort. And I believe that's exactly the legendary Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that relief outweighed other emotions. However these were magnificent contests really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our club. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for us. Every Old Firm match constitutes a significant occasion, though especially considering the circumstances of the recent days, if not recent weeks, absolutely.

Dugout History

Two new managers leading their teams today yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his twenty-eighth.

Today's result might significantly influence on how long O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

Celtic could pay substantial compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They might consider a more significant chance involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions might choose to offer Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste in British football. These constitute chances 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.

Substitutes: Sinisalo, Balikwisha, Yang, Osmand, McCowan, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Tierney.

Marcelo Sarrachi starts instead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI 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, with Mohamed Diomande coming in taking Connor Barron's suspended place in central areas and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Match Preview

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