Confirmed: Celtic share date, KO details for Scottish Cup Semi-Final clash

By Euan Davidson

March 16, 2022

Celtic have confirmed when we’ll be facing Rangers in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final.

The second of potentially three Glasgow Derbies within a month, the Hoops will kick-off against the Ibrox club on Sunday, 17th April at 2pm. It’s an Easter Sunday derby for the Bhoys, who are chasing a Treble and make no mistake.

The Hoops beat Dundee United on Monday to ensure progression to the final 4. It’ll be a really combative weekend of football, with Hearts and Hibs facing each other the day before. The Scottish Cup has never had both the Edinburgh Derby and the Glasgow Derby take place in the semi-final stage before.

So, it’s already history. Celtic face Rangers at Ibrox on the 3rd of April in the Scottish Premiership, hoping to keep the gap at the top of the table, and provide some momentum for this Scottish Cup battle at Hampden.

Celtic, of course, already have a domestic trophy to our name this season. The Hoops beat Hibernian at Scotland’s national stadium in December, to secure the Premier Sports Cup.

Premier Sports, incidentally, will be carrying both semi-finals on their service.

Celtic shared the details on Twitter:

It’ll be wee Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first trip to Hampden as a manager, having sat out Rangers’ defeat to Hibs in the Premier Sports Cup. The last time his team faced Celtic, the Hoops ran out rampant winners, beating our rivals 3-0 with goals from Reo Hatate and Liel Abada.

Until the the SPFL Premiership post-split fixtures are announced, we’re dealing in hypotheticals – but it could well be that Celtic face Rangers three times next month.

What a seismic time in both the title race, and Celtic’s hunt for their 5th treble in 6 years.

Celtic v Rangers Scottish Cup details confirmed

So now we know.

What an Easter weekend of football that promises to be. Clearly, Celtic haven’t given up goals for Lent – a 3-0 win over Dundee United and a 3-1 victory over Livingston have provided a great deal of confidence.

Equally, at the back, Celtic are looking assured with Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers leading the defence. Elsewhere, new signings like Daizen Maeda and Matt O’Riley are looking assured, with Giorgos Giakoumakis providing a real threat up front.

You’d have to argue Celtic are the team in the ascendency here. We’re on a fantastic domestic unbeaten run, having not lost in Scotland since Livingston sneaked past us at the Tony Macaroni. In 2022, we’ve only dropped 2 points, in a forgettable goalless draw against Hibernian [BBC].

I don’t know about you, but I’m already feeling the excitement for this.

If Ange Postecoglou can get us to two domestic finals in just his first season, that’s some achievement.

A treble would be unbelievable.

Let’s see what the Bhoys can do.

Read more: Celtic man Carl Starfelt has shown up pundits queueing to criticise him