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The players head out amid the roar, Hampden Park split down the middle with blue and green sections. For the opportunity to play St Mirren FC at this venue next month … here we go.

Other Football

Other football: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for West Ham v Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the Women's Super League.

As for us, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at Hampden!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He also refereed last year's Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers and a Europa League match in the last term where he showed four red cards and 12 yellows. Steer clear of confrontation.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: While this is his first Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has emphasized recently that he's familiar with being involved in other important local clashes during his managerial journey, at Bayern Munich and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick took over, our subsequent fixture was versus Dortmund at home. We won 4-0. It is always a booster following success in these encounters. Furthermore, in the EFL 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 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I have tremendous respect for that type of coaching legacy. I think it is always great in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this field and you are successful.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. I have a lot of work to do to reach that level but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, distinct coaching generations and we'll observe what we can demonstrate with our teams in this game.

I am very excited. I've accumulated certain experiences yet I foresee a massive occasion on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, the stakes are extremely high. Success secures a final place, you lose, you're out. I think everything is on for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

The experienced boss: The Celtic interim manager has been reflecting this week about his first meeting versus their rivals two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Now, repeating that performance may prove quite arduous, netting six times against that side. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph if we managed to secure it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was an amazing match', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers spoke about it regularly. It evolved into a decisive encounter for us, not merely in that term, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours prior to the match, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I think that's what the legendary Walter Smith often mentioned too, that comfort surpassed other feelings. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It continues to be a superb rivalry.

This represents an important match for us. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game constitutes a significant occasion, though especially considering the circumstances of the recent days, if not weeks, absolutely.

Coaching Background

Two different coaches on the sidelines this afternoon but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience between them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his 28th such match.

Today's result might significantly influence regarding the tenure O'Neill's comeback as stand-in Celtic coach persists, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

Celtic could pay £5m in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions might choose to offer Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen an initial experience of British football. These are all gambles in different manners. Even more than O'Neill? This is arguable.

Team Selections

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 features preferred to Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest is also omitted of the XI that overcame Falkirk in their recent match.

Rangers (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 over Max Aarons on the right side, including Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard chosen over Mikey Moore in attack.

Preamble

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