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The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden divided in two into blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren in this stadium in December … it all kicks off.

Other Football

More matches: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the early kick-offs in the Women's Super League.

Turning to this match, we're only five minutes away until kick-off at Hampden!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge today. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game last season where he showed four red cards and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has made it clear in recent days that he's familiar with participating in other important local clashes in his coaching career, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick took over, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It always provides a lift if you win such a game. Furthermore, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I recognize the importance for the fans. This is more than just a game.

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

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I think it is always great as a manager when you work so long in this business and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning of my career. I have a lot of work to do to reach that level however the positive aspect we start at 0-0, separate eras and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this encounter.

I am very excited. I've accumulated certain experiences but I expect a big, big one during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, it's all or nothing. You win, you go into the final, a loss ends your participation. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

The Celtic manager: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling about his first meeting against Rangers 25 years ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance may prove quite arduous, putting six past them versus that team. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory if we could get it. Some lads come up and mention to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their family members were talking about it. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not only during that campaign, but likely for future progress.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I believe that's exactly the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that relief outweighed other emotions. However these were magnificent contests genuinely. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This constitutes a significant fixture for us. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for our squad. Every Old Firm match is a big game, but particularly given the situation of the recent days, if not weeks, definitely.

Managerial Experience

Two fresh managers on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in Old Firm experience among them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his 28th such match.

Today's result might significantly influence on how long O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager persists, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They might consider an even bigger gamble with Robbie Keane. The reigning champions could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience within British soccer. These represent risks to varying degrees. More than O'Neill? This is debatable.

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 begins ahead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest also drops out from the first team that defeated 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 ahead of Max Aarons on the right side, including Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard chosen instead of Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Opening Context

Hello and welcome to this Old Firm clash. It should be improved {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus