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Match Coverage

The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden separated evenly with blue and green sections. For the opportunity to face St Mirren here this December … it all kicks off.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham vs Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the early kick-offs in the women's top division.

As for us, there's just over five minutes until kick-off at the national stadium!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh takes charge this afternoon. He was also the referee for the 2024 Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers and a continental game the previous campaign when he distributed four red cards and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has stated clearly in recent days that he's familiar with being involved in other important local clashes in his coaching career, during his time at Bayern plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick took over, 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 involved in that as well. I understand the significance for the fans. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I feel a big respect for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable as a manager when you work so long in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I'm only starting out of my career. There's much work remaining to reach that level though the encouraging factor we start at 0-0, different generations and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this encounter.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience though I anticipate a big, big one during Sunday's match. To be involved in this fixture, everything is at stake. You win, you go into the final, you lose, you're out. I believe all factors align for an outstanding match.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has been reflecting this week regarding his initial encounter with Rangers a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Well, replicating that might be extremely difficult, putting six past them against those opponents. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Various individuals tell me and inform me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', despite not being born at the time. They tell me their family members were talking about it. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our club, 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 great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that relief outweighed other emotions. But they were fantastic fixtures truly. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This constitutes a significant fixture for us. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's a crucial contest for our squad. Every Old Firm match constitutes a significant occasion, however specifically because of the circumstances of the recent days, if not weeks, absolutely.

Managerial Experience

Two different coaches in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience among them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

Today's result could have a major impact on the duration O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss continues, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They might consider an even bigger gamble on Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen an initial experience within British soccer. These are all gambles in their own way. 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.

Subs: Sinisalo, Balikwisha, Yang, Osmand, McCowan, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Tierney.

Marcelo Sarrachi begins preferred to Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is also omitted from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk during the week.

Rangers FC (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, including Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored to Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Preamble

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