🔗 Share this article

Live Feed

The players head out into the noise, Hampden Park divided in two with blue and green sections. For the right to face St Mirren at this venue in December … here we go.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham vs Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the women's top division.

Turning to this match, there's just over five minutes until kick-off at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He previously officiated last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game last season during which he issued four red cards and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has made it clear this week that he's used to participating in other major rivalries in his coaching career, at Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick took over, our subsequent fixture took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We triumphed 4-0. It is always a booster if you win such a game. Additionally, in the Championship in the Steel derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance among the followers. This is more than just a game.

The German manager has also been lauding 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I have tremendous respect for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable as a manager when you remain active for so many years in this field and achieve success.

I'm merely commencing my professional journey. There's much work remaining to reach that level but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, separate eras and let's see what we can demonstrate with our teams in this game.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've gained some experience though I anticipate an enormous event this Sunday. To be part of such a game, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, a loss ends your participation. I believe all factors align for a magnificent contest.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has been reflecting this week concerning his debut match against Rangers two and a half decades past, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Certainly, matching that achievement might be extremely difficult, netting six times against those opponents. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Certain supporters approach and mention to me: 'That was a great game', though they weren't alive then. They tell me their ancestors and parents discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not just that season, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then if you got the result, significant comfort. And I think that's what the legendary Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches truly. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for our side. Each encounter between these rivals constitutes a significant occasion, however specifically because of the conditions of recent times, if not weeks, absolutely.

Dugout History

Two different coaches on the sidelines this afternoon yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience between them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge of his 28th.

This match's conclusion could have a major impact on how long O'Neill's comeback as stand-in Celtic coach persists, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They may attempt a larger risk with Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a first taste within British soccer. These represent risks in different manners. More than O'Neill? This remains questionable.

First XIs

Celtic FC (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 features instead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest also drops out from the first team that beat Falkirk in their recent match.

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 receives preference ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, with Mohamed Diomande coming in taking Connor Barron's suspended place in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to 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