Celtic versus Rangers – Scottish League Cup Semi-Final

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The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden separated evenly into blue and green. For the right to play St Mirren in this stadium in December … the action begins.

Additional Fixtures

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

Regarding our coverage, approximately five minutes remain until kick-off at Hampden!

Match Officials

Nick Walsh will referee this afternoon. He was also the referee for the 2024 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers plus a European fixture in the last term where he showed four sending-offs and twelve cautions. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

Danny Röhl: Although this marks his initial Old Firm, the recently appointed boss has stated clearly recently that he's accustomed to participating in other significant derbies in his coaching career, at Bayern Munich plus his stint at Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick assumed control, our following match took place against Dortmund at our stadium. We won 4-0. It always provides a lift if you win such a game. As well, in the EFL Championship during the Steel City derby, I was involved in that as well. I understand the significance for the fans. This transcends ordinary football.

The German manager has been complimenting 73-year-old Martin O'Neill's longevity.

I have tremendous respect for that type of coaching legacy. I consider it consistently remarkable in this profession when you remain active for so many years in this industry and achieve success.

I am just at the beginning of my career. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point 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 tremendously excited. I have had some experience but I expect a big, big one during Sunday's match. To be involved in this fixture, it's all or nothing. Success secures a final place, a loss ends your participation. I believe all factors align for a great, great game.

Counterpart Perspective

The experienced boss: The stand-in manager has recently been recalling concerning his debut match against Rangers two and a half decades past, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Certainly, matching that achievement might be extremely difficult, putting six past them against that side. I would accept an unattractive 1-0 win if we managed to secure it. Various individuals tell me and say to me: 'That was a fantastic encounter', and they weren't even born. They inform me their family members discussed it frequently. It became a really pivotal match for us, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The tension for nearly 72 hours prior to the match, and then should you secure success, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith often mentioned too, that it was relief more than anything else. Yet these represented superb matches really. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This is a big game for our team. Really, don't disguise that at all. It's a last-four clash, it's an important game for our side. Each encounter between these rivals constitutes a significant occasion, though especially considering the conditions of recent times, if not weeks, absolutely.

Dugout History

Two different coaches in the dugouts today but there's a big gap in derby experience among them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural leading Rangers while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his 28th such match.

This match's conclusion could have a major impact on the duration O'Neill's comeback as temporary Celtic manager continues, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They might consider a more significant chance with Robbie Keane. The Scottish champions might choose to offer Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge a first taste within British soccer. These are all gambles in different manners. More than O'Neill? This is arguable.

First XIs

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 starts instead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the first team that defeated Falkirk in midweek.

Rangers FC (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 is selected over Max Aarons on the right side, with Mohamed Diomande coming in replacing the banned Connor Barron in midfield and Thelo Aasgaard chosen over Mikey Moore in offensive positions.

Opening Context

Greetings and welcome to this derby match. It's got to be better {than last time|compared to the previous meeting|versus