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Match Coverage

The teams emerge into the noise, Hampden Park split down the middle into blue and green. For the opportunity to face St Mirren FC here next month … here we go.

Additional Fixtures

More matches: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the WSL.

Turning to this match, there's just over five minutes before the game begins at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle today. He also refereed the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game in the last term where he showed four dismissals and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

The German coach: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has made it clear recently that he's accustomed to participating in other significant derbies during his managerial journey, with Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick took over, our following match was at home against Dortmund. We secured a 4-0 victory. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance among the followers. This is more than just a game.

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

I hold great admiration for such a managerial journey. I think it is always great for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. There's much work remaining to achieve similar status but the good thing is we start at 0-0, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can demonstrate with our teams in this fixture.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've gained some experience yet I foresee an enormous event this Sunday. To be part of such a game, the stakes are extremely high. Success secures a final place, you lose, you're out. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Counterpart Perspective

Martin O'Neill: The stand-in manager has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting with Rangers two and a half decades past, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Certainly, matching that achievement could be very challenging, netting six times versus that team. I would take a scrappy single-goal triumph should we achieve it. Various individuals tell me and mention to me: 'That was a great game', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their family members spoke about it regularly. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our team, not just that season, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then should you secure success, tremendous relief. And I believe that's exactly the legendary Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches genuinely. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This is a big game for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's a crucial contest for us. Every Old Firm match is a big game, however specifically because of the situation of recent times, if not weeks, certainly.

Coaching Background

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut 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 return as temporary Celtic manager lasts, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They might consider an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge an initial experience in British football. These represent risks in different manners. Even more than O'Neill? This is debatable.

Team Selections

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 begins ahead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that defeated 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 gets the nod over Max Aarons on the right, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in midfield with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Preamble

Greetings and welcome to this Old Firm clash. It ought to be superior {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus