🔗 Share this article

Live Updates

The players head out to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park split down the middle into blue and green. For the right to face St Mirren FC in this stadium this December … it all kicks off.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham v Newcastle in the Premier League; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the day's opening matches in the women's top division.

Regarding our coverage, we're only five minutes away before the game begins at Hampden Park!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh is the man in the middle this match. He was also the referee for the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a continental game in the last term during which he issued four dismissals and 12 yellows. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has made it clear recently that he's familiar with taking part in other significant derbies as a coach, at Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick assumed control, our following match took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in England's second tier in the Sheffield derby, I was also part [of it] there. I understand the significance to the supporters. This transcends ordinary football.

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

I have tremendous respect for such a coaching career. I think it is always great for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this business and accomplish your objectives.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. There's much work remaining to come to this point though the encouraging factor we start at 0-0, separate eras and let's see what we can bring with our teams in this fixture.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience but I expect an enormous event this Sunday. To participate in such a match, the stakes are extremely high. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I think everything is on for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The temporary Celtic boss has recently been recalling about his first meeting against Rangers two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Well, replicating that could be very challenging, scoring six goals against that side. I'd settle for a scrappy single-goal triumph if we could get it. Some lads come up and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their family members were talking about it. It became a really pivotal match for our team, not only during that campaign, but possibly for sustained development.

The nervousness for about 72 hours before, and subsequently if you achieved victory, a great relief. And I think that's what the legendary Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that relief outweighed other emotions. But they were fantastic fixtures truly. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our club. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game represents a major event, though especially considering the conditions of the past few days, possibly even months, definitely.

Managerial Experience

Two new managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience between them. Danny Röhl faces his debut as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his 28th such match.

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

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to coax Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They could take a larger risk with Robbie Keane. The reigning champions might choose to offer Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a debut opportunity within British soccer. These constitute chances in different manners. Beyond O'Neill? This remains questionable.

Starting Lineups

Celtic (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 instead of Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that overcame 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 is selected over Max Aarons in the right flank position, with Mohamed Diomande coming in for the suspended Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard preferred instead of Mikey Moore in attack.

Match Preview

Greetings and welcome to this derby match. It should be improved {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus