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The squads take the field amid the roar, Hampden Park split down the middle into blue and green. For the right to play St Mirren here next month … it all kicks off.

Additional Fixtures

More matches: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham vs Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the early kick-offs in the WSL.

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

Referee Information

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this match. He also refereed the 2024 cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match in the last term during which he issued four sending-offs and 12 yellows. Steer clear of confrontation.

Dugout Views

The German coach: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has stated clearly recently that he's familiar with participating in other major rivalries during his managerial journey, with Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick assumed control, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We won 4-0. It always provides a lift following success in these encounters. Additionally, in the Championship in the Sheffield derby, I participated there too. I know what it means among the followers. This represents more than a simple match.

The young coach 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 as a manager when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning my coaching path. I have substantial work ahead to reach that level but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, distinct coaching generations and we'll discover what we can bring via our selections in this encounter.

I am very excited. I have had some experience but I expect a big, big one this Sunday. To participate in such a match, everything is at stake. Victory means reaching the final, you lose, you're out. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Counterpart Perspective

The experienced boss: The temporary Celtic boss has this week been reminiscing concerning his debut match versus their rivals a quarter-century ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Now, repeating that performance could be very challenging, netting six times against that side. I would take a scrappy single-goal triumph should we achieve it. Some lads come up and mention to me: 'That was a great game', though they weren't alive then. They tell me their family members spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not merely in that term, 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 comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This represents an important match for us. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a last-four clash, it's an important game for our squad. Every Old Firm match represents a major event, however specifically because of the circumstances of the recent days, possibly even months, certainly.

Dugout History

Two different coaches in the dugouts today yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience between them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge of his 28th.

This match's conclusion may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager lasts, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience in British football. These constitute chances in their own way. More than O'Neill? This remains questionable.

Team Selections

Celtic (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Sarrachi; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Maeda, Kenny, Tounekti.

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

Marcelo Sarrachi starts ahead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. 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 instead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, with Mohamed Diomande coming in for the suspended Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Opening Context

Good afternoon and welcome to this derby match. It ought to be superior {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus