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Match Coverage

The squads take the field amid the roar, Hampden divided in two with blue and green sections. For the right to face St Mirren here this December … here we go.

Additional Fixtures

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

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

Match Officials

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He was also the referee for last year's Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture in the last term where he showed four red cards and twelve cautions. Avoid challenging him.

Coaching Perspectives

The German coach: While this is his first Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has made it clear this week that he's accustomed to being involved in other significant derbies as a coach, with Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick took over, our following match was at home against Dortmund. We won 4-0. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. As well, in England's second tier 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 young coach has also been lauding the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I have tremendous respect for such a coaching career. I consider it consistently remarkable for a coach when you remain active for so many years in this business and you are successful.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. There's much work remaining to reach that level however the positive aspect we start at 0-0, separate eras and let's see what we can demonstrate through our squads in this fixture.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience yet I foresee a big, big one on Sunday. To participate in such a match, everything is at stake. Success secures a final place, you lose, you're out. I believe all factors align for a magnificent contest.

Counterpart Perspective

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has been reflecting this week concerning his debut match with Rangers 25 years ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Well, replicating that could be very challenging, scoring six goals against that side. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory if we could get it. Certain supporters approach and mention to me: 'That was an amazing match', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their ancestors and parents spoke about it regularly. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not just that season, but likely for future progress.

The tension for nearly 72 hours before, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I feel that's precisely the great Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. But they were fantastic fixtures really. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This represents an important match for our club. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final, it's a big match for our side. Every Old Firm match constitutes a significant occasion, but particularly given the situation of the past few days, if not recent weeks, absolutely.

Coaching Background

Two fresh managers in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in derby experience separating them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage of his 28th.

The outcome today could have a major impact on how long O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager lasts, as Ewan Murray has reflected.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They may attempt a larger risk on Robbie Keane. The title holders might choose to offer Club Brugge's Nicky Hayen an initial experience of British football. These represent risks in different manners. More than 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 begins instead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the starting lineup that overcame 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 gets the nod ahead of Max Aarons on the right side, featuring Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in central areas with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Match Preview

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