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Match Coverage

The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden split down the middle into blue and green. For the right to face St Mirren in this stadium next month … here we go.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham v Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

As for us, approximately five minutes remain before the game begins at Hampden Park!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He also refereed the 2024 cup final involving Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture last season where he showed four dismissals and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized this week that he's familiar with participating in other major rivalries as a coach, with Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We secured a 4-0 victory. It always provides a lift when you triumph in such matches. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was also part [of it] there. I recognize the importance for the fans. This represents more than a simple match.

The 36-year-old German has been praising Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I hold great admiration for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable as a manager when you sustain your career over decades in this business and you are successful.

I'm only starting out my professional journey. There's much work remaining to come to this point however the positive aspect we start at 0-0, different generations and let's see what we can bring with our teams in this fixture.

I'm tremendously excited. I've accumulated certain experiences yet I foresee a big, big one this Sunday. To be part of such a game, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I think everything is on for an outstanding match.

Opposition Manager

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

Certainly, matching that achievement may prove quite arduous, putting six past them against those opponents. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph should we achieve it. Some lads come up and inform me: 'That was a great game', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their ancestors and parents spoke about it regularly. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our club, not only during that campaign, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I believe that's exactly the renowned Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This represents an important match for our team. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final, it's a big match for our side. Each encounter between these rivals is a big game, though especially considering the conditions of recent times, if not recent weeks, definitely.

Managerial Experience

Two new managers leading their teams today though there's a significant difference in Old Firm experience among them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first leading Rangers whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee of his 28th.

This match's conclusion might significantly influence on the duration O'Neill's second spell as (interim, for now) Celtic boss continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

They could potentially invest £5m in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They may attempt an even bigger gamble involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste in British football. These are all gambles in different manners. Beyond O'Neill? This is arguable.

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 starts instead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk in midweek.

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

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

James Tavernier gets the nod ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, including Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred to Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Match Preview

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