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Live Updates

The teams emerge amid the roar, Hampden separated evenly with blue and green sections. To earn the chance to face St Mirren here this 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 has all the latest from the early kick-offs in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, approximately five minutes remain before the start at Hampden!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a continental game in the last term when he distributed four sending-offs and 12 yellows. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

The Rangers manager: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has emphasized in recent days that he's familiar with taking part in other important local clashes during his managerial journey, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, our following match was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in the Championship in the Steel derby, I was involved in that as well. I know what it means among the followers. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I have tremendous respect for such a managerial journey. I believe it's always impressive for a coach when you remain active for so many years in this field and accomplish your objectives.

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. There's much work remaining to come to this point however the positive aspect we start at 0-0, separate eras and we'll discover what we can bring with our teams in this fixture.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've gained some experience yet I foresee a big, big one 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.

Counterpart Perspective

The experienced boss: The stand-in manager has recently been recalling concerning his debut match against Rangers 25 years ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Now, repeating that performance could be very challenging, putting six past them versus that team. I'd settle for a scrappy single-goal triumph if we managed to secure it. Various individuals tell me and mention to me: 'That was a great game', and they weren't even born. They tell me their ancestors and parents were talking about it. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The nervousness for about 72 hours before, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This is a big game for us. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, however specifically because of the conditions of the recent days, possibly even months, definitely.

Dugout History

Two different coaches leading their teams today though there's a significant difference in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

The outcome today may substantially affect regarding the tenure O'Neill's comeback as (interim, for now) Celtic boss lasts, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

Celtic could pay substantial compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They could take an even bigger gamble on Robbie Keane. The title holders may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste of British football. These are all gambles in different manners. More than O'Neill? This is arguable.

First XIs

Celtic (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 starts preferred to Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI that beat Falkirk during the week.

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 receives preference ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard chosen to Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

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