🔗 Share this article

Live Updates

The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden separated evenly between blue and green. For the right to meet St Mirren FC in this stadium next month … it all kicks off.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham vs Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments 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!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh takes charge this afternoon. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game in the last term where he showed four dismissals and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

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 accustomed to taking part in other major rivalries as a coach, at Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick took over, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We secured a 4-0 victory. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. As well, in England's second tier during the Steel City derby, I was involved in that as well. I know what it means for the fans. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I feel a big respect for such a managerial journey. I believe it's always impressive for a coach when you work so long in this business and achieve success.

I'm merely commencing my professional journey. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can demonstrate via our selections in this encounter.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience but I expect an enormous event during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, everything is at stake. You win, you go into the final, you lose, you're out. I think everything is on for a magnificent contest.

Opposition Manager

The Celtic manager: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter against Rangers two and a half decades past, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Now, repeating that performance may prove quite arduous, scoring six goals versus that team. I would accept an unattractive 1-0 win if we managed to secure it. Certain supporters approach and say to me: 'That was an amazing match', though they weren't alive then. They relate to me their ancestors and parents discussed it frequently. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our team, not only during that campaign, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days beforehand, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that comfort surpassed other feelings. However these were magnificent contests truly. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This represents an important match for our team. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's an important game for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game constitutes a significant occasion, but particularly given the conditions of the past few days, if not recent weeks, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two different coaches on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in derby experience between them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge of his 28th.

Today's result might significantly influence on the duration O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss lasts, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take a larger risk involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a first taste of British football. These represent risks to varying degrees. More than O'Neill? This is arguable.

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 features instead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI that defeated Falkirk during the week.

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 gets the nod over Max Aarons on the right, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored over Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Match Preview

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