🔗 Share this article

Live Feed

The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden split down the middle between blue and green. To earn the chance to play St Mirren FC here next month … here we go.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham v Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the early kick-offs 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 the 2024 Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers and a continental game in the last term during which he issued four sending-offs and twelve cautions. Don't cross him.

Coaching Perspectives

The German coach: While this is his first Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has stated clearly in recent days that he's used to being involved in other important local clashes as a coach, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We secured a 4-0 victory. It is always a booster following success in these encounters. Additionally, in the EFL Championship in the Steel derby, I participated there too. I recognize the importance to the supporters. This is more than just a game.

The young coach has also been lauding the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I hold great admiration for such a managerial journey. I believe it's always impressive as a manager when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and achieve success.

I'm only starting out my coaching path. There's much work remaining to come to this point though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, separate eras and we'll observe what we can contribute via our selections in this game.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience but I expect a massive occasion during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, everything is at stake. Victory means reaching the final, a loss ends your participation. I believe all factors align for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has been reflecting this week regarding his initial encounter versus their rivals 25 years ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Well, replicating that could be very challenging, netting six times against those opponents. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They tell me their ancestors and parents spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not merely in that term, but possibly for sustained development.

The nervousness for about 72 hours beforehand, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that relief outweighed other emotions. However these were magnificent contests genuinely. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This represents an important match for our club. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for our side. Each encounter between these rivals is a big game, but particularly given the situation of recent times, if not recent weeks, absolutely.

Coaching Background

Two fresh managers on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee of his 28th.

Today's result might significantly influence regarding the tenure O'Neill's second spell as stand-in Celtic coach lasts, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend £5m in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They might consider an even bigger gamble on Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions could decide to provide Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity within British soccer. These constitute chances to varying degrees. 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 features ahead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. 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 gets the nod instead of Max Aarons on the right, featuring Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Preamble

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