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Match Coverage

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

Additional Fixtures

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury brings the newest developments from the initial games in the Women's Super League.

Turning to this match, we're only five minutes away before the start at the national stadium!

Officiating Team

Nick Walsh will referee this match. He also refereed the 2024 cup final between Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture the previous campaign when he distributed four sending-offs and twelve cautions. Avoid challenging him.

Coaching Perspectives

The German coach: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the fresh-faced gaffer has emphasized this week that he's used to being involved in other significant derbies during his managerial journey, during his time at Bayern plus his stint at Wednesday.

I can remember when Hansi Flick assumed control, our following match was versus Dortmund at home. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation if you win such a game. As well, in the EFL Championship in the Steel derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means to the supporters. This transcends ordinary football.

The 36-year-old German has also been lauding Martin O'Neill's lengthy tenure at 73.

I hold great admiration for such a coaching career. I think it is always great for a coach when you remain active for so many years in this field and you are successful.

I am just at the beginning of my career. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point however the positive aspect we commence evenly matched, separate eras and we'll observe what we can contribute via our selections in this fixture.

I'm tremendously excited. I've gained some experience but I expect an enormous event during Sunday's match. To be involved in this fixture, everything is at stake. Victory means reaching the final, defeat means elimination. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Counterpart Perspective

The Celtic manager: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling concerning his debut match against Rangers two and a half decades past, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Well, replicating that may prove quite arduous, netting six times against that side. I'd settle for a scrappy single-goal triumph should we achieve it. Some lads come up and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', despite not being born at the time. They relate to me their grandfathers and fathers spoke about it regularly. It became a really pivotal match for our club, not merely in that term, but possibly for sustained development.

The anxiety for approximately three days before, and then should you secure success, tremendous relief. And I think that's what the great Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches genuinely. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a crucial contest for us. Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, however specifically because of the situation of the recent days, if not recent weeks, certainly.

Coaching Background

Two different coaches in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in rivalry knowledge separating them. Danny Röhl faces his debut leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

This match's conclusion may substantially affect on the duration O'Neill's return as (interim, for now) Celtic boss lasts, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

They could potentially invest £5m in compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They might consider a larger risk involving Robbie Keane. The reigning champions could decide to provide Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a debut opportunity of British football. These are all gambles to varying degrees. Even more than O'Neill? This is debatable.

Team Selections

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

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

Marcelo Sarrachi begins preferred to Kieran Tierney on the left defensive flank. James Forrest also drops out of the XI that beat 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 ahead of Max Aarons in the right flank position, including Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in central areas and Thelo Aasgaard preferred over Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Opening Context

Good afternoon and welcome to this derby match. It should be improved {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus