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The teams emerge amid the roar, Hampden Park divided in two into blue and green. For the opportunity to play St Mirren FC at this venue in December … it all kicks off.

Other Matches

More matches: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham v Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the early kick-offs in the WSL.

Regarding our coverage, there's just over five minutes before the start at Hampden!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this match. He previously officiated last year's Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers and a continental game in the last term during which he issued four red cards and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has made it clear recently that he's used to taking part in other important local clashes as a coach, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our second game was at home against Dortmund. We won 4-0. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in the EFL Championship during the Steel City derby, I was involved in that as well. I know what it means among the followers. This transcends ordinary football.

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

I hold great admiration for such a managerial journey. I believe it's always impressive as a manager when you sustain your career over decades in this industry and accomplish your objectives.

I am just at the beginning of my career. There's much work remaining to achieve similar status though the encouraging factor we begin level, separate eras and we'll discover what we can bring via our selections in this encounter.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience though I anticipate a big, big one on Sunday. To be part of such a game, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, you lose, you're out. I believe all factors align for an outstanding match.

Opposition Manager

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has been reflecting this week concerning his debut match against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance might be extremely difficult, netting six times versus that team. I would take a scrappy single-goal triumph should we achieve it. Certain supporters approach and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They tell me their family members spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not just that season, but likely for future progress.

The nervousness for about 72 hours beforehand, and subsequently if you achieved victory, significant comfort. And I believe that's exactly the legendary Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that relief outweighed other emotions. Yet these represented superb matches really. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our team. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for us. Each encounter between these rivals is a big game, but particularly given the situation of the past few days, possibly even months, absolutely.

Dugout History

Two different coaches on the sidelines this afternoon but there's a big gap in derby experience separating them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

This match's conclusion might significantly influence on the duration O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

They could potentially invest £5m in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They could take a larger risk on Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity of British football. These are all gambles in their own way. Even more than O'Neill? This remains questionable.

Starting Lineups

Celtic (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 begins ahead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is also omitted from the starting lineup that beat Falkirk during the week.

Rangers FC (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 ahead of Max Aarons on the right, including Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard chosen instead of Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Preamble

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