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The teams emerge amid the roar, Hampden separated evenly into blue and green. For the right to face St Mirren FC in this stadium next month … the action begins.

Other Matches

Additional games: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the initial games in the WSL.

As for us, we're only five minutes away before the start at Hampden Park!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He previously officiated last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match last season where he showed four dismissals and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has emphasized recently that he's familiar with taking part in other important local clashes in his coaching career, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick assumed control, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We secured a 4-0 victory. It consistently offers motivation following success in these encounters. Additionally, in the EFL Championship in the Steel derby, I participated there too. I recognize the importance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

The young coach has been complimenting the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I consider it consistently remarkable for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this business and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning of my career. There's much work remaining to come to this point however the positive aspect we begin level, different generations and we'll discover what we can bring through our squads in this encounter.

I'm tremendously excited. I have had some experience though I anticipate an enormous event this Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, the stakes are extremely high. You win, you go into the final, a loss ends your participation. I believe all factors align for a magnificent contest.

Rival Coach

The Celtic manager: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling concerning his debut match versus their rivals 25 years ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance might be extremely difficult, netting six times versus that team. I would accept a really lousy 1-0 victory should we achieve it. Some lads come up and mention to me: 'That was a great game', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their family members discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not only during that campaign, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours before, and subsequently if you achieved victory, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that comfort surpassed other feelings. Yet these represented superb matches truly. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This represents an important match for our club. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's a big match for our side. Every Old Firm match constitutes a significant occasion, however specifically because of the situation of recent times, possibly even months, absolutely.

Managerial Experience

Two fresh managers on the sidelines this afternoon but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

Today's result may substantially affect regarding the tenure O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager persists, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

Celtic could pay £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 Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a first taste in British football. These are all gambles to varying degrees. Even more than O'Neill? This is arguable.

First XIs

Celtic FC (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 features ahead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest also drops out from the first team that defeated Falkirk in midweek.

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 instead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in central areas and Thelo Aasgaard chosen instead of Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Match Preview

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