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Match Coverage

The teams emerge amid the roar, Hampden separated evenly into blue and green. For the right to play St Mirren FC in this stadium this December … the action begins.

Additional Fixtures

Additional games: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham vs Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the WSL.

Turning to this match, there's just over five minutes before the start at Hampden Park!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge today. He also refereed last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match in the last term where he showed four red cards and twelve cautions. Steer clear of confrontation.

Dugout Views

The German coach: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has stated clearly recently that he's used to taking part in other major rivalries as a coach, at Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick took over, our second game took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We won 4-0. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in the Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means for the fans. This is more than just a game.

The young coach has been complimenting Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I feel a big respect for such a managerial journey. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this business and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning of my career. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point but the good thing is we start at 0-0, different generations and we'll discover what we can bring through our squads in this game.

I'm tremendously excited. I have had some experience but I expect a big, big one on Sunday. To be part of such a game, the stakes are extremely high. You win, you go into the final, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Opposition Manager

The Celtic manager: The Celtic interim manager has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting versus their rivals 25 years ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Certainly, matching that achievement may prove quite arduous, putting six past them against that side. I would accept a really lousy 1-0 victory if we could get it. Some lads come up and inform me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', despite not being born at the time. They tell me their ancestors and parents discussed it frequently. It became a really pivotal match for our club, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days beforehand, and subsequently if you achieved victory, significant comfort. And I think that's what the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. However these were magnificent contests genuinely. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for us. Each encounter between these rivals is a big game, but particularly given the conditions of recent times, possibly even months, definitely.

Managerial Experience

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in rivalry knowledge between them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as Rangers manager while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge of his 28th.

The outcome today may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's second spell as stand-in Celtic coach continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They could take an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The title holders might choose to offer Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience in British football. These represent risks in their own way. Beyond 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 features preferred to Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is additionally excluded of the XI 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 on the right side, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Opening Context

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