Celtic FC against Rangers FC – Scottish League Cup Semi-Final

Live Feed

The squads take the field to a thunderous reception, Hampden divided in two into blue and green. To earn the chance to face St Mirren in this stadium this December … the action begins.

Other Matches

More matches: John Brewin offers real-time commentary for the West Ham-Newcastle clash in England's top flight; Yara El-Shaboury delivers fresh updates from the early kick-offs in the women's top division.

As for us, there's just over five minutes before the start at the national stadium!

Referee Information

Nick Walsh takes charge this match. He also refereed the 2024 cup final between Celtic and Rangers and a Europa League match the previous campaign where he showed four sending-offs and a dozen bookings. Don't cross him.

Manager Insights

The Rangers manager: While this is his first Old Firm, the new Rangers manager has made it clear this week that he's familiar with taking part in other major rivalries during his managerial journey, at Bayern Munich and with Sheffield Wednesday.

I recollect during Hansi Flick's appointment, our subsequent fixture was at home against Dortmund. We won 4-0. It consistently offers motivation when you triumph in such matches. Additionally, in the Championship in the Steel derby, I was involved in that as well. I recognize the importance among the followers. This is more than just a game.

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

I have tremendous respect for such a managerial journey. I believe it's always impressive for a coach when you sustain your career over decades in this field and accomplish your objectives.

I am just at the beginning of my career. I have substantial work ahead to come to this point though the encouraging factor we commence evenly matched, different generations and we'll discover what we can bring with our teams in this fixture.

I'm incredibly enthusiastic. I've gained some experience though I anticipate an enormous event on Sunday. To be involved in this fixture, it's all or nothing. Victory means reaching the final, you lose, you're out. I feel all elements converge for a great, great game.

Opposition Manager

Martin O'Neill: The Celtic interim manager has recently been recalling regarding his initial encounter against Rangers two and a half decades past, the memorable 6-2 victory.

Certainly, matching that achievement could be very challenging, netting six times against those opponents. I'd settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory if we managed to secure it. Some lads come up and inform me: 'That was an amazing match', despite not being born at the time. They inform me their ancestors and parents were talking about it. It transformed into a crucial game for our club, not just that season, but probably for continuing on.

The anxiety for approximately three days prior to the match, and then if you got the result, a great relief. And I feel that's precisely the legendary Walter Smith used to say about it as well, that relief outweighed other emotions. But they were fantastic fixtures genuinely. It remains a wonderful encounter.

This represents an important match for us. Honestly, don't conceal that fact. It's a semi-final, it's an important game for our side. Any Celtic-Rangers game is a big game, though especially considering the circumstances of recent times, possibly even months, certainly.

Managerial Experience

Two different coaches in the dugouts today yet there's a substantial disparity in derby experience separating them. Danny Röhl is experiencing his first as the Rangers boss while Martin O'Neill is about to take charge his twenty-eighth.

This match's conclusion may substantially affect on the duration O'Neill's comeback as stand-in Celtic coach lasts, as Ewan Murray has considered.

Celtic could pay five million pounds in compensation to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich. They could take a more significant chance on Robbie Keane. The title holders could decide to provide Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen a first taste within British soccer. These are all gambles in different manners. 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 starts ahead of Kieran Tierney at left-back. James Forrest also drops out from the starting lineup that overcame Falkirk in midweek.

Rangers FC (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 over Max Aarons on the right, including Mohamed Diomande taking Connor Barron's suspended place in midfield with Thelo Aasgaard favored to 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