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The squads take the field into the noise, Hampden Park divided in two with blue and green sections. For the right to play St Mirren FC here in December … the action begins.

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the day's opening matches in the Women's Super League.

Regarding our coverage, approximately five minutes remain before the start at Hampden!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh takes charge today. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a Europa League match in the last term during which he issued four dismissals and a dozen bookings. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

Danny Röhl: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the fresh-faced gaffer has stated clearly recently that he's accustomed to participating in other significant derbies during his managerial journey, during his time at Bayern and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick assumed control, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We secured a 4-0 victory. It always provides a lift following success in these encounters. Furthermore, in the Championship in the Sheffield derby, I was involved in that as well. I recognize the importance among the followers. This transcends ordinary football.

The German manager has been praising Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I have tremendous respect for such a coaching career. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you sustain your career over decades in this business and you are successful.

I'm only starting out my coaching path. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, different generations and we'll observe what we can bring through our squads in this game.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience though I anticipate a massive occasion during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, you lose, you're out. I feel all elements converge for an outstanding match.

Opposition Manager

The experienced boss: The temporary Celtic boss has this week been reminiscing about his first meeting against Rangers two and a half decades past, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Now, repeating that performance might be extremely difficult, netting six times versus that team. I would take a scrappy single-goal triumph if we could get it. Various individuals tell me and mention to me: 'That was a great game', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers spoke about it regularly. It evolved into a decisive encounter for our team, not only during that campaign, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days prior to the match, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I think that's what the legendary Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This is a big game for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's an important game for us. Every Old Firm match is a big game, however specifically because of the circumstances of the recent days, if not weeks, definitely.

Coaching Background

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

The outcome today may substantially affect on the duration O'Neill's comeback as (interim, for now) Celtic boss lasts, as Ewan Murray has considered.

They could potentially invest substantial compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take a larger risk involving Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste in British football. These constitute chances to varying degrees. Beyond O'Neill? This remains questionable.

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 begins instead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk in midweek.

Rangers (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 instead of Max Aarons on the right side, including Mohamed Diomande for the suspended Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Preamble

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