Celtic FC v Rangers FC – Scottish Cup Semi-Final Clash

Match Coverage

The teams emerge to a thunderous reception, Hampden Park separated evenly between blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren at this venue next month … here we go.

Other Matches

Other football: John Brewin is on our minute-by-minute coverage for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the initial games in the Women's Super League.

As for us, there's just over five minutes before the game begins at Hampden!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He previously officiated the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game last season when he distributed four red cards and 12 yellows. Avoid challenging him.

Dugout Views

The Rangers manager: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, the new Rangers manager has emphasized recently that he's familiar with being involved in other major rivalries as a coach, during his time at Bayern and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I can remember during Hansi Flick's appointment, our following match took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We secured a 4-0 victory. It is always a booster following success in these encounters. Furthermore, in the Championship during the Steel City derby, I was involved in that as well. I recognize the importance for the fans. This represents more than a simple match.

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

I hold great admiration for such a managerial journey. I think it is always great for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this business and accomplish your objectives.

I am just at the beginning my professional journey. I have substantial work ahead to reach that level though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, different generations and we'll observe what we can bring with our teams in this encounter.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I have had some experience though I anticipate a big, big one during Sunday's match. To participate in such a match, it's all or nothing. Success secures a final place, you lose, you're out. I think everything is on for a great, great game.

Rival Coach

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

Now, repeating that performance may prove quite arduous, scoring six goals against that side. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory if we managed to secure it. Certain supporters approach and inform 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 only during that campaign, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days beforehand, and subsequently if you achieved victory, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the legendary Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that relief outweighed other emotions. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This constitutes a significant fixture for our club. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a semi-final, it's a crucial contest for our side. Every Old Firm match represents a major event, however specifically because of the situation of recent times, possibly even months, certainly.

Coaching Background

Two fresh managers leading their teams today yet there's a substantial disparity in Old Firm experience between them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill gets ready to manage his 28th such match.

The outcome today may substantially affect on how long O'Neill's second spell as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has considered.

The club might spend substantial compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The reigning champions may opt to give Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a debut opportunity of British football. These are all gambles to varying degrees. Even more than O'Neill? This remains questionable.

First XIs

Celtic (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 starts ahead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is also omitted from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk in midweek.

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, including Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard chosen to Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Match Preview

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