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The players head out amid the roar, Hampden Park split down the middle between blue and green. For the right to face St Mirren FC at this venue next month … the action begins.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the women's top division.

As for us, there's just over five minutes until kick-off at Hampden!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh takes charge today. He also refereed last year's Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture last season where he showed four red cards and twelve cautions. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the recently appointed boss has stated clearly recently that he's familiar with participating in other significant derbies during his managerial journey, during his time at Bayern plus his stint at Wednesday.

I can remember when Hansi Flick took over, our following match took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We triumphed 4-0. It is always a booster if you win such a game. Furthermore, in England's second tier in the Sheffield derby, I was involved in that as well. I understand the significance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

The German manager has been praising Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I feel a big respect for such a managerial journey. I consider it consistently remarkable as a manager when you work so long in this business and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning my coaching path. I have a lot of work to do to reach that level though the encouraging factor we start at 0-0, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can bring via our selections in this encounter.

I am very excited. I've gained some experience yet I foresee a massive occasion on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, it's all or nothing. You win, you go into the final, defeat means elimination. I believe all factors align for a great, great game.

Opposition Manager

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance might be extremely difficult, putting six past them versus that team. I would accept an unattractive 1-0 win if we could get it. Some lads come up and say to me: 'That was an amazing match', and they weren't even born. They tell me their family members discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not just that season, but likely for future progress.

The nervousness for about 72 hours prior to the match, and then should you secure success, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches truly. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our team. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Every Old Firm match constitutes a significant occasion, but particularly given the situation of the past few days, if not weeks, definitely.

Dugout History

Two fresh managers on the sidelines this afternoon yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience between them. Danny Röhl faces his debut leading Rangers whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his twenty-eighth.

The outcome today could have a major impact on how long O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager persists, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They may attempt an even bigger gamble on Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity of British football. These constitute chances in their own way. 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.

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

Marcelo Sarrachi begins instead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that defeated Falkirk in their recent match.

Rangers (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 receives preference instead of Max Aarons on the right side, with Mohamed Diomande coming in taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Match Preview

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