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The squads take the field into the noise, Hampden split down the middle into blue and green. For the right to face St Mirren here in 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 initial games in the WSL.

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

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh takes charge this afternoon. He was also the referee for the 2024 cup final involving Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture the previous campaign when he distributed four red cards and twelve cautions. Avoid challenging him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has emphasized this week that he's used to being involved in other important local clashes during his managerial journey, at Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall during Hansi Flick's appointment, our following match was versus Dortmund at home. We secured a 4-0 victory. It always provides a lift when you triumph in such matches. Furthermore, in the EFL Championship during the Steel City derby, I participated there too. I understand the significance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

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

I hold great admiration for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you work so long in this field and you are successful.

I am just at the beginning my coaching path. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, separate eras and let's see what we can contribute with our teams in this game.

I am very excited. I've accumulated certain experiences yet I foresee an enormous event on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, everything is at stake. Success secures a final place, a loss ends your participation. I believe all factors align for a great, great game.

Counterpart Perspective

The experienced boss: The stand-in manager has this week been reminiscing concerning his debut match with Rangers two and a half decades past, the famous 6-2 demolition.

Well, replicating that may prove quite arduous, 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 great game', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their ancestors and parents spoke about it regularly. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our team, not only during that campaign, but possibly for sustained development.

The anxiety for approximately three days beforehand, and subsequently if you achieved victory, a great relief. And I believe that's exactly the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. Yet these represented superb matches really. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for our side. Every Old Firm match is a big game, but particularly given the circumstances of recent times, possibly even months, definitely.

Dugout History

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

Today's result might significantly influence regarding the tenure O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss continues, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They may attempt a more significant chance involving Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity within British soccer. These represent risks to varying degrees. Beyond O'Neill? This is arguable.

Starting Lineups

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 starts preferred to Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is additionally excluded of the XI that beat Falkirk during the week.

Rangers (3-4-3): Butland; Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius; Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma; Aasgaard, Chermiti, Danilo.

Substitutes: Kelly, Aarons, Fernández, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

James Tavernier receives preference over Max Aarons in the right flank position, with Mohamed Diomande coming in replacing the banned Connor Barron in midfield with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Preamble

Good afternoon and welcome to this Old Firm clash. It ought to be superior {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus