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The squads take the field amid the roar, Hampden Park split down the middle into blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren FC here next month … here we go.

Additional Fixtures

Additional games: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, we're only five minutes away before the start 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 last season where he showed four dismissals and twelve cautions. Steer clear of confrontation.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has stated clearly this week that he's accustomed to being involved in other significant derbies as a coach, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our second game was versus Dortmund at home. We won 4-0. It always provides a lift when you triumph in such matches. As well, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I was also part [of it] there. I recognize the importance among the followers. This represents more than a simple match.

The German manager has also been lauding 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I have tremendous respect for such a managerial journey. I believe it's always impressive in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this industry and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. There's much work remaining to come to this point but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, different generations and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this game.

I am very excited. I've gained some experience though I anticipate a big, big one during Sunday's match. To be part of such a game, the stakes are extremely high. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter versus their rivals two and a half decades past, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Certainly, matching that achievement could be very challenging, putting six past them against those opponents. I'd settle for an unattractive 1-0 win if we managed to secure it. Certain supporters approach and mention to me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not only during that campaign, but possibly for sustained development.

The nervousness for about 72 hours before, and then if you got the result, significant comfort. And I believe that's exactly the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. However these were magnificent contests really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a last-four clash, it's a big match for us. Every Old Firm match is a big game, though especially considering the situation of recent times, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Coaching Background

Two different coaches leading their teams today yet there's a substantial disparity in Old Firm experience among them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage of his 28th.

The outcome today could have a major impact on the duration O'Neill's return as stand-in Celtic coach persists, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to persuade Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They could take an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions could decide to provide Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity in British football. These constitute chances in their own way. More than O'Neill? This is debatable.

Starting Lineups

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 instead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI that beat Falkirk in their recent match.

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 over Max Aarons in the right flank position, including Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in midfield with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Opening Context

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