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The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden separated evenly with blue and green sections. For the opportunity to meet St Mirren FC in this stadium next month … the action begins.

Other Football

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for West Ham v Newcastle in the EPL; Yara El-Shaboury has all the latest from the initial games in the women's top division.

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

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He also refereed last year's Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a Europa League match in the last term where he showed four dismissals and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

The German coach: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized this week that he's accustomed to taking part in other important local clashes as a coach, during his time at Bayern plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recollect when Hansi Flick assumed control, our second game was versus Dortmund at home. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation if you win such a game. Additionally, in England's second tier in the Sheffield derby, I was also part [of it] there. 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 feel a big respect for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you sustain your career over decades in this business and accomplish your objectives.

I'm merely commencing my coaching path. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point but the good thing is we commence evenly matched, different generations and we'll observe what we can contribute through our squads in this game.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience but I expect a massive occasion this Sunday. To participate in such a match, the stakes are extremely high. You win, you go into the final, a loss ends your participation. I think everything is on for a magnificent contest.

Opposition Manager

Martin O'Neill: The temporary Celtic boss has this week been reminiscing concerning his debut match against Rangers two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Well, replicating that might be extremely difficult, netting six times against those opponents. I would accept a scrappy single-goal triumph if we managed to secure it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', though they weren't alive then. They inform me their ancestors and parents discussed it frequently. It became a really pivotal match for our team, not merely in that term, but possibly for sustained development.

The nervousness for about 72 hours before, and then if you got the result, significant comfort. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that relief outweighed other emotions. However these were magnificent contests truly. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This constitutes a significant fixture for us. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a last-four clash, it's a big match for us. Each encounter between these rivals is a big game, however specifically because of the situation of the recent days, possibly even months, absolutely.

Coaching Background

Two new managers on the sidelines this afternoon though there's a significant difference in rivalry knowledge between them. Danny Röhl faces his debut leading Rangers whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion could have a major impact on the duration O'Neill's return as temporary Celtic manager persists, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

They could potentially invest £5m in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town. They might consider an even bigger gamble on Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen an initial experience in British football. These represent risks in their own way. Beyond O'Neill? This remains questionable.

Team Selections

Celtic FC (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Scales, Sarrachi; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Maeda, Kenny, Tounekti.

Reserves: Sinisalo, Balikwisha, Yang, Osmand, McCowan, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Tierney.

Marcelo Sarrachi features preferred to Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest also drops out of the XI that overcame Falkirk during the week.

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 instead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, with Mohamed Diomande coming in replacing the banned Connor Barron in the middle and Thelo Aasgaard chosen over Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Match Preview

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