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The players head out to a thunderous reception, Hampden divided in two with blue and green sections. To earn the chance to meet St Mirren at this venue this December … it all kicks off.

Other Football

More matches: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the day's opening matches in the WSL.

As for us, there's just over five minutes until kick-off at Hampden Park!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match last season where he showed four sending-offs and 12 yellows. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has made it clear in recent days that he's familiar with participating in other important local clashes during his managerial journey, during his time at Bayern and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, our following match was versus Dortmund at home. We won 4-0. It is always a booster when you triumph in such matches. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was involved in that as well. I understand the significance for the fans. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I have tremendous respect for such a coaching career. I believe it's always impressive in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this industry and achieve success.

I'm only starting out of my career. There's much work remaining to reach that level though the encouraging factor we begin level, distinct coaching generations and let's see what we can bring through our squads in this encounter.

I am very excited. I've gained some experience yet I foresee an enormous event during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, it's all or nothing. Success secures a final place, you lose, you're out. I believe all factors align for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting against Rangers a quarter-century ago, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Well, replicating that might be extremely difficult, putting six past them against those opponents. I would take a really lousy 1-0 victory if we could get it. Various individuals tell me and inform me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They tell me their ancestors and parents discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for our team, not merely in that term, but possibly for sustained development.

The nervousness for about 72 hours prior to the match, and subsequently if you achieved victory, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for us. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for our side. Every Old Firm match is a big game, but particularly given the circumstances of recent times, if not weeks, definitely.

Coaching Background

Two new managers on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in Old Firm experience among them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager persists, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay substantial compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take a larger risk involving Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience within British soccer. These are all gambles in different manners. Beyond O'Neill? This is debatable.

Team Selections

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 in the left-back position. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk in their recent match.

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 is selected instead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, featuring Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in the middle with Thelo Aasgaard favored over Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Preamble

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