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Match Coverage

The players head out amid the roar, Hampden split down the middle with blue and green sections. For the opportunity to face St Mirren FC in this stadium in December … it all kicks off.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham vs Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the day's opening matches in the WSL.

Regarding our coverage, we're only five minutes away before the game begins at Hampden Park!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this afternoon. He also refereed the 2024 cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match the previous campaign during which he issued four red cards and twelve cautions. Don't cross him.

Dugout Views

The German coach: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the recently appointed boss has made it clear recently that he's accustomed to participating in other major rivalries during his managerial journey, at Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We secured a 4-0 victory. It consistently offers motivation if you win such a game. As well, in England's second tier during the Steel City 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 also been lauding 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I hold great admiration for that type of coaching legacy. I believe it's always impressive for a coach when you work so long in this industry and you are successful.

I'm merely commencing of my career. There's much work remaining to achieve similar status but the good thing is we begin level, distinct coaching generations and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this fixture.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've accumulated certain experiences yet I foresee a big, big one during Sunday's match. To be involved in this fixture, the stakes are extremely high. Success secures a final place, a loss ends your participation. I feel all elements converge for a magnificent contest.

Counterpart Perspective

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Well, replicating that might be extremely difficult, netting six times versus that team. I'd settle for an unattractive 1-0 win should we achieve it. Some lads come up and inform me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', despite not being born at the time. They relate to me their family members spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not only during that campaign, but possibly for sustained development.

The nervousness for about 72 hours prior to the match, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I think that's what the great Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches really. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This represents an important match for us. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a last-four clash, it's an important game for us. Each encounter between these rivals is a big game, though especially considering the conditions of the past few days, if not weeks, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two fresh managers leading their teams today yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience among them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge of his 28th.

This match's conclusion might significantly influence on the duration O'Neill's return as stand-in Celtic coach continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

The club might spend substantial compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They may attempt a larger risk on Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions might choose to offer Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a debut opportunity in British football. These are all gambles in their own way. Even 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 starts ahead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk during the week.

Rangers (3-4-3): Butland; Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius; Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma; Aasgaard, Chermiti, Danilo.

Reserves: Kelly, Aarons, Fernández, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

James Tavernier gets the nod over Max Aarons in the right flank position, with Mohamed Diomande coming in taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard chosen instead of Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

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