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Match Coverage

The squads take the field amid the roar, Hampden split down the middle into blue and green. For the opportunity to meet St Mirren FC in this stadium in December … the action begins.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham vs Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

As for us, there's just over five minutes before the game begins at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this match. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers and a Europa League match the previous campaign where he showed four sending-offs and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the recently appointed boss has emphasized recently that he's familiar with being involved in other important local clashes in his coaching career, with Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recollect during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We won 4-0. It always provides a lift following success in these encounters. Additionally, in England's second tier in the Sheffield derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

The 36-year-old German has been complimenting Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I feel a big respect for that type of coaching legacy. I think it is always great in this profession when you work so long in this industry and you are successful.

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. I have a lot of work to do to reach that level but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, separate eras and we'll observe what we can demonstrate via our selections in this fixture.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience yet I foresee an enormous event during Sunday's match. To be involved in this fixture, the stakes are extremely high. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I think everything is on for an outstanding match.

Opposition Manager

Martin O'Neill: The Celtic interim manager has been reflecting this week concerning his debut match with Rangers 25 years ago, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Now, repeating that performance might be extremely difficult, netting six times versus that team. 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 inform me their grandfathers and fathers discussed it frequently. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our club, not merely in that term, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours beforehand, and subsequently if you achieved victory, a great relief. And I believe that's exactly the legendary Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that it was relief more than anything else. However these were magnificent contests really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This constitutes a significant fixture for us. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final, it's a big match for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, but particularly given the circumstances of the recent days, possibly even months, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two new managers on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in Old Firm experience between them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as the Rangers boss whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion may substantially affect regarding the tenure O'Neill's second spell as (interim, for now) Celtic boss continues, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They may attempt a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity within British soccer. These constitute chances to varying degrees. More than O'Neill? This is debatable.

Starting Lineups

Celtic FC (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 features preferred to Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk in their recent match.

Rangers FC (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 ahead of Max Aarons on the right side, featuring Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

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