🔗 Share this article

Live Updates

The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park separated evenly with blue and green sections. To earn the chance to play St Mirren FC at this venue this December … here we go.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham vs Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the early kick-offs in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, approximately five minutes remain before the start at Hampden!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge this afternoon. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match the previous campaign where he showed four red cards and 12 yellows. Steer clear of confrontation.

Dugout Views

The German coach: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has emphasized recently that he's familiar with participating in other major rivalries as a coach, at Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our following match took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation following success in these encounters. Furthermore, in England's second tier during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I know what it means among the followers. This represents more than a simple match.

The young coach has been complimenting 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I feel a big respect for such a coaching career. I believe it's always impressive for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this business and you are successful.

I am just at the beginning my coaching path. I have a lot of work to do to achieve similar status however the positive aspect we start at 0-0, distinct coaching generations and we'll discover what we can contribute via our selections in this encounter.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've gained some experience though I anticipate a massive occasion this Sunday. To participate in such a match, it's all or nothing. Success secures a final place, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for a magnificent contest.

Opposition Manager

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting with Rangers two and a half decades past, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Certainly, matching that achievement may prove quite arduous, putting six past them against those opponents. I'd settle for a scrappy single-goal triumph if we managed to secure it. Various individuals tell me and inform me: 'That was a great game', and they weren't even born. They relate to me their grandfathers and fathers were talking about it. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not just that season, but possibly for sustained development.

The anxiety for approximately three days prior to the match, and subsequently if you achieved victory, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the great Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This represents an important match for us. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's an important game for our squad. Every Old Firm match constitutes a significant occasion, however specifically because of the situation of the past few days, possibly even months, certainly.

Dugout History

Two different coaches leading their teams today but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience between them. Danny Röhl faces his debut leading Rangers whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his 28th such match.

This match's conclusion may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's comeback as (interim, for now) Celtic boss continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

The club might spend substantial compensation to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They might consider an even bigger gamble with Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity within British soccer. These represent risks in different manners. More than O'Neill? This is debatable.

Team Selections

Celtic (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 features preferred to Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is additionally excluded of the XI that beat Falkirk during the week.

Rangers (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 in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Preamble

Hello and welcome to the Old Firm. It ought to be superior {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus