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The teams emerge into the noise, Hampden Park split down the middle between blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren FC in this stadium next month … here we go.

Other Matches

More matches: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham v Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

Turning to this match, approximately five minutes remain before the start at Hampden Park!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee today. He also refereed the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture in the last term where he showed four red cards and a dozen bookings. Steer clear of confrontation.

Coaching Perspectives

The Rangers manager: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the recently appointed boss has emphasized in recent days that he's accustomed to taking part in other major rivalries as a coach, with Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We secured a 4-0 victory. It consistently offers motivation if you win such a game. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship in the Steel derby, I was also part [of it] there. I understand the significance to the supporters. This transcends ordinary football.

The young coach has also been lauding Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I have tremendous respect for that type of coaching legacy. I think it is always great as a manager when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and you are successful.

I am just at the beginning of my career. I have substantial work ahead to reach that level however the positive aspect we commence evenly matched, distinct coaching generations and we'll observe what we can contribute via our selections in this encounter.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've accumulated certain experiences though I anticipate an enormous event on Sunday. To be part of such a game, the stakes are extremely high. Victory means reaching the final, a loss ends your participation. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Counterpart Perspective

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has this week been reminiscing regarding his initial encounter versus their rivals a quarter-century ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Well, replicating that may prove quite arduous, putting six past them against those opponents. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph should we achieve it. Various individuals tell me and inform me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They tell me their ancestors and parents discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not merely in that term, but possibly for sustained development.

The anxiety for approximately three days beforehand, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I believe that's exactly the great Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our club. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for our side. Each encounter between these rivals constitutes a significant occasion, though especially considering the conditions of the past few days, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Dugout History

Two new managers on the sidelines this afternoon yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience among them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion might significantly influence regarding the tenure O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager persists, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay substantial compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They may attempt a more significant chance with Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity of British football. These are all gambles to varying degrees. 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.

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

Marcelo Sarrachi begins preferred to Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI that overcame Falkirk during the week.

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

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

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

Preamble

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