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The squads take the field amid the roar, Hampden divided in two between blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren FC in this stadium this December … it all kicks off.

Other Matches

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 early kick-offs in the women's top division.

As for us, we're only five minutes away until kick-off at the national stadium!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He also refereed the 2024 cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game last season when he distributed four sending-offs and 12 yellows. Avoid challenging him.

Manager Insights

The Rangers manager: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the recently appointed boss has stated clearly this week that he's accustomed to being involved in other important local clashes as a coach, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, 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 understand the significance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

The young coach has been complimenting 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

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

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. There's much work remaining to come to this point though the encouraging factor we begin level, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can demonstrate via our selections in this encounter.

I'm tremendously excited. I have had some experience but I expect a big, big one on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, the stakes are extremely high. You win, you go into the final, defeat means elimination. I think everything is on for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The temporary Celtic boss has this week been reminiscing regarding his initial encounter versus their rivals two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance could be very challenging, putting six past them versus that team. I'd settle for a scrappy single-goal triumph if we managed to secure it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was a great game', though they weren't alive then. They relate to me their ancestors and parents spoke about it regularly. It became a really pivotal match for our club, not merely in that term, but likely for future progress.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and subsequently if you achieved victory, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the legendary Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches truly. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This represents an important match for our team. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a last-four clash, it's an important game for us. Every Old Firm match is a big game, however specifically because of the situation of recent times, possibly even months, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today though there's a significant difference in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his 28th such match.

This match's conclusion could have a major impact on how long O'Neill's comeback as (interim, for now) Celtic boss continues, as Ewan Murray has considered.

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity within British soccer. These constitute chances in different manners. More than O'Neill? This is arguable.

Starting Lineups

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 starts ahead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk during the week.

Rangers (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 gets the nod over Max Aarons on the right, including Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored over Mikey Moore in attack.

Preamble

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