🔗 Share this article

Match Coverage

The squads take the field amid the roar, Hampden divided in two with blue and green sections. For the opportunity to face St Mirren FC in this stadium in December … it all kicks off.

Other Matches

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the early kick-offs in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, we're only five minutes away before the start at the national stadium!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He also refereed the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture last season when he distributed four red cards and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has made it clear this week that he's used to taking part in other important local clashes during his managerial journey, during his time at Bayern plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recollect during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It always provides a lift when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in England's second tier during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I know what it means for the fans. This is more than just a game.

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

I have tremendous respect for such a coaching career. I think it is always great in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this business and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning my coaching path. I have substantial work ahead to achieve similar status however the positive aspect we commence evenly matched, separate eras and we'll discover what we can demonstrate via our selections in this game.

I am very excited. I have had some experience though I anticipate a massive occasion during Sunday's match. To be part of such a game, the stakes are extremely high. You win, you go into the final, defeat means elimination. I believe all factors align for an outstanding match.

Counterpart Perspective

Martin O'Neill: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling concerning his debut match against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Well, replicating that might be extremely difficult, scoring six goals against that side. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory if we managed to secure it. Some lads come up and mention to me: 'That was an amazing match', though they weren't alive then. They tell me their grandfathers and fathers discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then should you secure success, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that relief outweighed other emotions. However these were magnificent contests genuinely. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our club. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for us. Each encounter between these rivals represents a major event, but particularly given the circumstances of the recent days, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Coaching Background

Two different coaches leading their teams today yet there's a substantial disparity in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his 28th such match.

Today's result might significantly influence on the duration O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

They could potentially invest £5m in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They might consider an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity of British football. These constitute chances in their own way. More than O'Neill? This is arguable.

First XIs

Celtic FC (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 begins preferred to Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest also drops out of the XI that defeated Falkirk in their recent match.

Rangers (3-4-3): Butland; Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius; Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma; Aasgaard, Chermiti, Danilo.

Reserves: Kelly, Aarons, Fernández, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

James Tavernier gets the nod over Max Aarons on the right, with Mohamed Diomande coming in replacing the banned Connor Barron in central areas and Thelo Aasgaard preferred instead of Mikey Moore in attack.

Opening Context

Greetings and welcome to this derby match. It's got to be better {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus