🔗 Share this article

Match Coverage

The teams emerge into the noise, Hampden Park divided in two between blue and green. For the right to play St Mirren FC here in December … the action begins.

Additional Fixtures

Additional games: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham v Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the WSL.

As for us, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at Hampden Park!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh will referee today. He was also the referee for the 2024 cup final involving Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture in the last term when he distributed four sending-offs and 12 yellows. Steer clear of confrontation.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has made it clear in recent days that he's used to taking part in other significant derbies in his coaching career, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick took over, our following match was at home against Dortmund. We won 4-0. It consistently offers motivation if you win such a game. Additionally, in England's second tier in the Sheffield derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

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

I have tremendous respect for such a managerial journey. I think it is always great for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. I have substantial work ahead to achieve similar status but the good thing is we begin level, separate eras and we'll observe what we can bring via our selections in this encounter.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience though I anticipate an enormous event this Sunday. To be part of such a game, everything is at stake. Success secures a final place, a loss ends your participation. I think everything is on for an outstanding match.

Opposition Manager

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Now, repeating that performance could be very challenging, putting six past them versus that team. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Some lads come up and say to me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They relate to me their grandfathers and fathers were talking about it. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not just that season, but possibly for sustained development.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the legendary Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This is a big game for us. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, though especially considering the circumstances of the past few days, if not weeks, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

Today's result could have a major impact on how long O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss lasts, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They might consider a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience of British football. These represent risks in their own way. Even 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 ahead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the first team that defeated Falkirk in their recent match.

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 receives preference instead of Max Aarons on the right, featuring Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard preferred instead of Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Preamble

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