Murrayfield semi could be epic for 60,000 real fans

NO trophies will be handed out. No tickertape will float out of the sky.

But Sunday’s Betfred Cup semi-final clash between Celtic and Hearts at Murrayfield is the biggest showpiece the Scottish game will have to offer all season.

Bigger than next month’s final and the Scottish Cup next May. In terms of atmosphere, occasion and size, it’s as big as we’re going to get.

The 60,000 sellout will dwarf the attendances at the two subsequent cup finals this term.

Live on national TV across the UK, it’s a helluva showcase.

The atmosphere is going to be crackling because of the passion generated by genuine supporters holding all of the tickets. When the cup finals go to Hampden, you don’t get that.

There might be just over 52,000 in the stadium but those tickets aren’t all awarded to the punters. Sponsors, corporates, tickets handed to various clubs within the associations. It’s a known fact.

When it comes down to it there’s normally just over 20,000 left for the real fans of each of the participating club.

At Murrayfield though it’s more or less a 50-50 split with 30,000 from each club in attendance. And it seems as though just about every ticket has been snapped up by those who are due them. The real fans.

When you get a turnout of that magnitude it deserves a game to go with it and it’s most certainly got it. It’s set up beautifully.

Celtic, the champions, without a single loss in a domestic cup competition under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers and a firm grip on every piece of silverware this country has to offer going into battle to show they remain top dogs.

Hearts the challengers. This new team at Tynecastle has the punters flowing back and confidence coursing through it. It’s also massive for Craig Levein.

For all his achievements there remains the stick which constantly prods him about not winning anything. Never as a player or a manager has the former Scotland gaffer got his hands on major silverware.

Hearts surely can’t win a title over a 38-game campaign with the resources at the disposal of the Glasgow clubs, despite the fact they’ve gone six points clear at this early stage.

But they can most certainly win this Betfred Cup and will get few better chances to sink the Hoops. Rodgers is without Dedryck Boyata and Scott Brown and maybe Leigh Griffiths too.

The game’s in Edinburgh. A decent three-wood off a tee away from their home stadium at Tynecastle.

There are so many positives for the Jambos going into the contest, yet no one can get away from the fact Celtic are the best team in the country and, problems or not, they are hot property when they get it going.

If these two turn up and play as they can it’s going to be an epic match. Our biggest of the season.

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Just about every ticket has been snapped up by those who are due them. The real fans