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Match Coverage

The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden divided in two into blue and green. For the right to face St Mirren FC in this stadium in December … the action begins.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham vs Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, there's just over five minutes before the game begins at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He was also the referee for the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a continental game last season where he showed four dismissals and 12 yellows. Avoid challenging him.

Coaching Perspectives

The German coach: While this is his first Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has emphasized recently that he's used to taking part in other significant derbies in his coaching career, during his time at Bayern and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick took over, our second game took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We triumphed 4-0. It is always a booster if you win such a game. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship during the Steel City derby, I was involved in that as well. I know what it means among the followers. This transcends ordinary football.

The German manager has been complimenting the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I have tremendous respect for such a coaching career. I believe it's always impressive in this profession when you work so long in this field and you are successful.

I'm only starting out my professional journey. 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 demonstrate through our squads in this game.

I am very excited. I have had some experience yet I foresee a big, big one during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, everything is at stake. Victory means reaching the final, you lose, you're out. I think everything is on for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The temporary Celtic boss has this week been reminiscing concerning his debut match with Rangers a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance could be very challenging, scoring six goals versus that team. I'd settle for an unattractive 1-0 win should we achieve it. Various individuals tell me and inform me: 'That was an amazing match', and they weren't even born. They inform me their family members discussed it frequently. It became a really pivotal match for us, not merely in that term, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours before, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I believe that's exactly the renowned Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that relief outweighed other emotions. Yet these represented superb matches truly. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This represents an important match for our club. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Every Old Firm match constitutes a significant occasion, though especially considering the situation of recent times, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Managerial Experience

Two different coaches in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in derby experience separating them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his 28th such match.

Today's result could have a major impact on how long O'Neill's second spell as stand-in Celtic coach persists, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend £5m in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They may attempt a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The reigning champions might choose to offer Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste of British football. These constitute chances in their own way. Even more than 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 starts instead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that defeated Falkirk in their recent match.

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 side, featuring Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in midfield with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Preamble

Good afternoon and welcome to this Old Firm clash. It should be improved {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus