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The players head out to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park split down the middle between blue and green. For the right to face St Mirren at this venue this December … the action begins.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham vs Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the early kick-offs in the women's top division.

Turning to this match, there's just over five minutes before the game begins at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He also refereed last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals plus a European fixture the previous campaign where he showed four dismissals and twelve cautions. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has made it clear recently that he's familiar with being involved in other significant derbies as a coach, with Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember when Hansi Flick assumed control, our subsequent fixture took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We triumphed 4-0. It is always a booster if you win such a game. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship during the Steel City derby, I was also part [of it] there. I understand the significance among the followers. This transcends ordinary football.

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

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I think it is always great as a manager when you work so long in this industry and achieve success.

I'm merely commencing my professional journey. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point however the positive aspect we begin level, separate eras and we'll observe what we can bring via our selections in this game.

I am very excited. I've gained some experience but I expect an enormous event this Sunday. To be part of such a game, the stakes are extremely high. Success secures a final place, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has been reflecting this week about his first meeting versus their rivals two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance may prove quite arduous, putting six past them against that side. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory if we managed to secure it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not just that season, but likely for future progress.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I believe that's exactly the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. However these were magnificent contests truly. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This constitutes a significant fixture for us. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for our squad. Each encounter between these rivals constitutes a significant occasion, but particularly given the conditions of the recent days, possibly even months, certainly.

Coaching Background

Two new managers leading their teams today but there's a big gap in rivalry knowledge between them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion might significantly influence regarding the tenure O'Neill's comeback as stand-in Celtic coach continues, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They could take a more significant chance with Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions might choose to offer Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a first taste of British football. These are all gambles in their own way. More than O'Neill? This is debatable.

First XIs

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 begins preferred to Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is also omitted from the first team that beat Falkirk during the week.

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

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

James Tavernier is selected ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Opening Context

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