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

Live Updates

The squads take the field into the noise, Hampden Park divided in two between blue and green. To earn the chance to meet St Mirren at this venue next month … it all kicks off.

Other Football

Other football: John Brewin provides live updates for West Ham vs Newcastle in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the initial games in the women's top division.

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

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He also refereed the 2024 Scottish Cup final featuring these two rivals and a continental game the previous campaign during which he issued four sending-offs and twelve cautions. Don't cross him.

Dugout Views

The German coach: Despite this being his debut in this fixture, 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 and Sheffield Wednesday.

I recall when Hansi Flick took over, our following match was at home against Dortmund. We triumphed 4-0. It consistently offers motivation if you win such a game. As well, in the Championship in the Steel derby, I was also part [of it] there. I know what it means to the supporters. This represents more than a simple match.

The young coach has been praising the enduring career of 73-year-old Martin O'Neill.

I feel a big respect for such a managerial journey. I think it is always great as a manager when you sustain your career over decades in this field and accomplish your objectives.

I'm only starting out of my career. I have a lot of work to do to come to this point though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, distinct coaching generations and we'll observe what we can demonstrate via our selections in this encounter.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've gained some experience but I expect a massive occasion on Sunday. To be part of such a game, the stakes are extremely high. Victory means reaching the final, 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 about his first meeting versus their rivals a quarter-century ago, the 6-2 'Demolition Derby'.

Certainly, matching that achievement might be extremely difficult, scoring six goals against that side. I would take a scrappy single-goal triumph if we managed to secure it. Various individuals tell me and mention to me: 'That was a great game', and they weren't even born. They inform me their grandfathers and fathers discussed it frequently. It transformed into a crucial game for us, not merely in that term, but probably for continuing on.

The nervousness for about 72 hours prior to the match, and then if you got the result, tremendous relief. And I feel that's precisely the renowned Walter Smith frequently stated similarly, that it was relief more than anything else. However these were magnificent contests genuinely. It's still a fantastic fixture.

This constitutes a significant fixture for us. Truthfully, don't hide that reality. It's a semi-final encounter, it's a big match for our squad. Every Old Firm match represents a major event, but particularly given the conditions of the recent days, possibly even months, certainly.

Dugout History

Two new managers leading their teams today but there's a big gap in Old Firm experience among them. Danny Röhl encounters his inaugural as Rangers manager whereas Martin O'Neill prepares to oversee of his 28th.

This match's conclusion could have a major impact regarding the tenure O'Neill's return as stand-in Celtic coach lasts, as Ewan Murray has been pondering.

Celtic could pay substantial compensation to coax Kieran McKenna from Ipswich. They could take a more significant chance involving Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Nicky Hayen from Club Brugge an initial experience within British soccer. These represent risks in different manners. More than O'Neill? This is debatable.

First XIs

Celtic (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 begins instead of Kieran Tierney in the left-back position. James Forrest is additionally excluded from the first team that overcame Falkirk in their recent match.

Rangers (3-4-3): Butland; Djiga, Souttar, Cornelius; Tavernier, Diomande, Raskin, Meghoma; Aasgaard, Chermiti, Danilo.

Reserves: Kelly, Aarons, Fernández, Rothwell, Antman, Moore, Gassama, Curtis, Miovski.

James Tavernier is selected ahead of Max Aarons on the right, including Mohamed Diomande replacing the banned Connor Barron in central areas with Thelo Aasgaard favored instead of Mikey Moore in forward roles.

Opening Context

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