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Preview: Rangers vs Celtic – prediction, team news, line-ups

Rangers and Celtic will face off in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The victors will meet the winner between Falkirk and Inverness CT, who play on Saturday.

The bitter Old Firm rivals have played four times this term, and Celtic have won thrice, while the other ended in a draw.

Rangers were schooled 4-0 when the teams met at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership last September.

They drew 2-2 the next time they met in the league in January, with an 88th-minute goal from Kyogo Furuhashi nicking two points off the Light Blues.

Celtic came out on top the following month, winning 2-1 in the final of the Scottish League Cup.

The Hoops also ran out 3-2 winners earlier this month to effectively end Rangers’ chances of challenging for the title.

Sunday’s 435th edition of Old Firm represents the last opportunity for the Ibrox club to keep their hope of winning silverware this term alive.

The derby will produce firecrackers as usual, and Rangers have a lot to prove.

Match Preview

Michael Beale’s men are heading into the game on the back of a painful 2-0 loss to Aberdeen.

Celtic also dropped points as Motherwell held them to a 1-1 draw last weekend.

However, it is just the third time they have failed to win in 33 league games and they remain in fine form ahead of Sunday’s clash.

Ange Postecoglou’s men won 5-0 in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup against Greenock Morton in January.

A 5-1 victory over St Mirren in the fifth round followed in February, and they won 3-0 in the quarter-final against Hearts last month.

Reigning champions Rangers kicked off their Scottish Cup defence with a 1-0 win over St. Johnstone.

They secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Partick Thistle in the following round before a 3-0 win over Raith Rovers in the quarter-final.

Celtic are standing between the Light Blues and a place in the final, and a lot is at stake.

Team News

Rangers were without long-term absentees Steven Davis, Tom Lawrence and Kemar Roofe against the Dons, and the trio remain out.

Connor Goldson, Ryan Jack, Ryan Kent, Scott Wright and Antonio Colak also missed the game, but Wright will be available to face Celtic.

However, there are doubts over the potential availability of Colak, Goldson and Kent.

Celtic will be without James Forrest, Reo Hatate, Jota and Liel Abada, but Cameron Carter-Vickers will be available having featured against Motherwell.

Rangers potential starting line-up:

Allan McGregor, James Tavernier, John Souttar, Ben Davies, Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, Scott Arfield, Rabbi Matondo, Todd Cantwell, Malik Tillman, Alfredo Morelos.

Celtic potential starting line-up:

Joe Hart, Greg Taylor, Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, Aaron Mooy, Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda, Matt O’Riley, Sead Haksabanovic, Kyogo Furuhashi.

How to Watch?

Rangers vs Celtic, alongside all other fixtures in the Scottish Cup, is available to watch online via BBC Scotland and ViaPlay. For more details, see our live football streams page.

We Say: Rangers 1 Celtic 2

Rangers have lost to just three clubs across all domestic competitions this season.

Celtic remain their nemesis and the Hoops will likely emerge victors on Sunday.

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