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The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden split down the middle into blue and green. For the right to play St Mirren here next month … the action begins.

Other Football

Additional games: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham v Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the women's top division.

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

Referee Information

Nick Walsh will referee today. He was also the referee for the 2024 Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers and a Europa League match the previous campaign where he showed four red cards and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Coaching Perspectives

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has stated clearly this week that he's accustomed to participating in other significant derbies in his coaching career, at Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We won 4-0. It is always a booster when you triumph in such matches. As well, in England's second tier in the Steel derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means for the fans. This represents more than a simple match.

The young coach has also been lauding the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I consider it consistently remarkable for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this field and you are successful.

I am just at the beginning my coaching path. There's much work remaining to reach that level however the positive aspect we start at 0-0, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can contribute via our selections in this encounter.

I am very excited. I have had some experience though I anticipate a big, big one on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, the stakes are extremely high. Success secures a final place, you lose, you're out. I believe all factors align for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter with Rangers a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Certainly, matching that achievement could be very challenging, putting six past them against those opponents. I would accept an unattractive 1-0 win should we achieve it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', and they weren't even born. They relate to me their grandfathers and fathers spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The tension for nearly 72 hours beforehand, and subsequently if you achieved victory, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that relief outweighed other emotions. Yet these represented superb matches genuinely. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This represents an important match for us. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, though especially considering the situation of recent times, if not recent weeks, absolutely.

Managerial Experience

Two new managers leading their teams today but there's a big gap in derby experience 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 may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager persists, as Ewan Murray has considered.

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They may attempt a larger risk on Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience of British football. These are all gambles in their own way. Even more than O'Neill? This is debatable.

Starting Lineups

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

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

Marcelo Sarrachi starts preferred to Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI that overcame Falkirk in midweek.

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 is selected over Max Aarons on the right side, with Mohamed Diomande coming in taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Match Preview

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