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The teams emerge into the noise, Hampden Park separated evenly into blue and green. For the right to play St Mirren here this December … the action begins.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the women's top division.

Turning to this match, there's just over five minutes before the start at Hampden Park!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He previously officiated last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals plus a European fixture last season when he distributed four dismissals and twelve cautions. Steer clear of confrontation.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has emphasized this week that he's familiar with participating in other important local clashes as a coach, with Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We secured a 4-0 victory. It is always a booster following success in these encounters. Furthermore, in the Championship in the Steel derby, I participated there too. I recognize the importance among the followers. This transcends ordinary football.

The German manager has also been lauding Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I hold great admiration for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this field and achieve success.

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. There's much work remaining to achieve similar status though the encouraging factor we start at 0-0, separate eras and we'll discover what we can bring with our teams in this game.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience but I expect an enormous event this Sunday. To participate in such a match, it's all or nothing. You win, you go into the final, you lose, you're out. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Opposition Manager

The experienced boss: The temporary Celtic boss has recently been recalling about his first meeting against Rangers two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Well, replicating that may prove quite arduous, putting six past them against that side. I would take an unattractive 1-0 win if we could get it. Certain supporters approach and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', and they weren't even born. They inform me their family members discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not just that season, but possibly for sustained development.

The tension for nearly 72 hours before, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I think that's what the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures truly. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our team. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final, it's a big match for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game constitutes a significant occasion, though especially considering the situation of the recent days, possibly even months, definitely.

Dugout History

Two different coaches in the dugouts today yet there's a substantial disparity in rivalry knowledge between them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his 28th such match.

The outcome today might significantly influence regarding the tenure O'Neill's second spell as (interim, for now) Celtic boss lasts, as Ewan Murray has considered.

They could potentially invest five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take an even bigger gamble with Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen an initial experience in British football. These represent risks in different manners. Beyond O'Neill? This is debatable.

Team Selections

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 features preferred to Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI that beat 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 is selected instead of Max Aarons on the right, including Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in central areas with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

Good afternoon and welcome to the Old Firm. It's got to be better {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus