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The players head out into the noise, Hampden Park divided in two between blue and green. To earn the chance to meet St Mirren FC at this venue this December … it all kicks off.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham vs Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the early kick-offs in the Women's Super League.

As for us, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at Hampden!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this afternoon. He previously officiated the 2024 cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a continental game in the last term where he showed four sending-offs and twelve cautions. Steer clear of confrontation.

Manager Insights

The Rangers manager: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has stated clearly this week that he's accustomed to participating in other important local clashes as a coach, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We triumphed 4-0. It is always a booster when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in the EFL Championship in the Steel derby, I participated there too. I recognize the importance for the fans. This is more than just a game.

The 36-year-old German has been praising 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I feel a big respect for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, separate eras and we'll discover what we can demonstrate via our selections in this fixture.

I'm tremendously excited. I've accumulated certain experiences but I expect an enormous event this Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, the stakes are extremely high. Success secures a final place, defeat means elimination. I believe all factors align for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

The Celtic manager: The Celtic interim manager has this week been reminiscing concerning his debut match with Rangers a quarter-century ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Certainly, matching that achievement might be extremely difficult, putting six past them against that side. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph if we could get it. Some lads come up and inform me: 'That was a great game', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not just that season, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours before, and then should you secure success, significant comfort. And I think that's what the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. 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 is a big game, but particularly given the circumstances of the recent days, if not recent weeks, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two new managers in the dugouts today though there's a significant difference in rivalry knowledge among them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion could have a major impact on how long O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

The club might spend substantial compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They may attempt an even bigger gamble on Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions may opt to give Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge an initial experience in British football. These constitute chances in different manners. Beyond O'Neill? This is arguable.

Starting Lineups

Celtic (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 ahead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is also omitted from the first team 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 instead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in central areas with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Match Preview

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