🔗 Share this article

Live Updates

The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park divided in two into blue and green. For the right to play St Mirren here next month … here we go.

Other Football

More matches: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham v Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the early kick-offs in the WSL.

Turning to this match, we're only five minutes away before the start at Hampden!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match the previous campaign during which he issued four dismissals and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Dugout Views

The Rangers manager: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has made it clear in recent days that he's accustomed to being involved in other important local clashes in his coaching career, at Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick took over, our following match took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We won 4-0. It is always a booster when you triumph in such matches. As well, in the Championship in the Steel derby, I was also part [of it] there. I recognize the importance among the followers. This represents more than a simple match.

The German manager has been complimenting 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I have tremendous respect for that type of coaching legacy. I think it is always great in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I am just at the beginning my coaching path. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point though the encouraging factor we start at 0-0, separate eras and let's see what we can contribute via our selections in this fixture.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience but I expect a massive occasion this Sunday. To be part of such a game, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, a loss ends your participation. I think everything is on for a magnificent contest.

Rival Coach

The Celtic manager: The temporary Celtic boss has been reflecting this week concerning his debut match against Rangers 25 years ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Certainly, matching that achievement could be very challenging, scoring six goals against those opponents. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory if we managed to secure it. Some lads come up and inform me: 'That was a great game', and they weren't even born. They tell me their grandfathers and fathers were talking about it. It became a really pivotal match for us, not merely in that term, but likely for future progress.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then should you secure success, significant comfort. And I believe that's exactly the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures truly. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This represents an important match for our club. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, though especially considering the conditions of the recent days, if not weeks, absolutely.

Dugout History

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in derby experience between them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee of his 28th.

Today's result might significantly influence on how long O'Neill's return as stand-in Celtic coach persists, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They could take an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a first taste of British football. These represent risks in their own way. Beyond O'Neill? This is arguable.

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 preferred to Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI 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 instead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, including Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in central areas with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

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