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The teams emerge into the noise, Hampden separated evenly into blue and green. For the opportunity to meet St Mirren FC in this stadium in December … it all kicks off.

Additional Fixtures

Additional games: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham vs Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest 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!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He was also the referee for the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture the previous campaign where he showed four red cards and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized recently that he's familiar with being involved in other significant derbies in his coaching career, at Bayern Munich and with 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 following success in these encounters. Furthermore, in England's second tier in the Steel derby, I was involved in that as well. I know what it means among the followers. This represents more than a simple match.

The 36-year-old German 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 in this profession when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, distinct coaching generations and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this game.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience but I expect a big, big one during Sunday's match. To be part of such a game, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I believe all factors align for a magnificent contest.

Rival Coach

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has recently been recalling concerning his debut match against Rangers 25 years ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance could be very challenging, scoring six goals against those opponents. I would take an unattractive 1-0 win if we could get it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was a great game', despite not being born at the time. They tell me their ancestors and parents spoke about it regularly. It became a really pivotal match for our team, not just that season, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days prior to the match, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. However these were magnificent contests truly. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our team. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final encounter, it's an important game for our squad. Each encounter between these rivals represents a major event, but particularly given the conditions of recent times, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Coaching Background

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today though there's a significant difference in derby experience among them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage of his 28th.

This match's conclusion might significantly influence on how long O'Neill's comeback as stand-in Celtic coach persists, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They could take a more significant chance involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen an initial experience of British football. These represent risks to varying degrees. Even 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.

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

Marcelo Sarrachi features ahead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest also drops out from the first team that defeated Falkirk in midweek.

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 over Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in central areas with Thelo Aasgaard favored over Mikey Moore in attack.

Opening Context

Greetings and welcome to the Old Firm. It's got to be better {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus