Celtic vs Rangers LIVE: Scottish League Cup final latest score and goal updates as Old Firm rivals clash

The game has come alive now. Jefte pushes forward down the left and as Johnston loses his footing he streaks past him into the area – but the cut-back is between two blue shirts and cleared by a green.

Balogun then manages to clear to prevent Maeda getting in behind him down the left, with Celtic happy to go direct very quickly if there’s space behind the defence at any point.

Massive chance for Celtic! Bernardo feeds a lovely ball over the top to find Kuhn who blazes past Propper down the right flank, cuts inside and tries to take on Butland – he gets down to put a hand on the ball and nudge it away, it arrives at the feet of of Hatate and he shoots first time…saved again, this time with the former England keeper’s feet.

A third save from Butland follows a minute later in more routine fashion as Kyogo half-volleys on the run to the near post, but straight at the stopper.

A good example below of the smoke-filled scenes we had earlier on…and where they came from.

Igamane goes down to win a free-kick, but on the next phase concedes one himself for a foul on Johnston.

Celtic doing well to control early possession but they haven’t done too much with it yet in the attacking third.

Balogun almost gets himself into all kinds of trouble as he misses the ball entirely on a first challenge, Maeda skips around him and into the box…but the Rangers defender stretches out a long leg and hooks the ball away at the second attempt. Close to a first big sight of goal for the green and white shirts.

Maeda does well to hold up a ball down the left but he’s nowhere to go and is surrounded by three defenders. Tavernier eventually puts a meaty challenge in and the ball bounces away for a goal kick.

Up the other end a looping ball lands for Hagi who shoots from an angle – Schmeichel parries it straight back into his own six-yard box, but a teammate is on hand to clear.

The wind is billowing the corner flag as Hagi goes over to take the first set-piece of the game but his delivery is short and Celtic clear.

Lots of noise from both sets of fans in the early minutes, who can now see the pitch again as the smoke clears.

Kick-off! Celtic were ready to go then told it was Rangers’ kick-off – they get us underway and the League Cup final has begun.

Loads of smoke billowing across the skyline and out of the stadium so we’ll have a few minutes of delay – clouds of it from flares and fireworks and all the rest. We’re ready to go though!

A massive roar greets the players as they emerge – Hampden is rocking. A loud and busy cup final is on the way next.

One defeat in 19 for Brendan Rodgers against Celtic.

“It’s a nice focus in the early part of the season. We’ve started the season so well, this is an opportunity for something tangible from that,” he said.

“Johnston felt pain in the Zagreb game but he was absolutely fine.

“They’ll come into the game with confidence but for us it’s about how we play and how we show our football.”