Chelsea have named goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga in their starting line-up to take on Al Hilal this afternoon.
The 27-year-old shot-stopper has played the Blues' last six matches in all competitions, with Edouard Mendy representing Senegal in their triumphant Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Despite Mendy travelling over to the United Arab Emirates to join up with his Chelsea team-mates earlier today, the Senegal goalkeeper was deemed not quite ready to make the starting line-up after playing for his country in their penalty shootout victory over Egypt in the AFCON final on Sunday evening.
So, Kepa starts for the Blues as they bid to reach the final of a competition they have never won.
Here is the Chelsea XI: Kepa, Christensen, Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Jorginho, Alonso, Ziyech, Lukaku, Havertz.
Here are how some Blues supporters reacted to the line-up, with Kepa seemingly a big talking point.
@_mujii said: "Kepa! He deserves it, plus Mendy rest."
@ahmo99 said: "I felt sorry for Kepa, his face says a thousand words. Hope it keeps him better because he got better with Mendy presence and competition, he also keeps Mendy on his toes knowing there is a competitive goalie ready to replace him if he screws up."
@Reece_cfc: "Kepa has been good enough since mendy left so you don’t really wanna rip that away from him on Saturday. Would kill all the conference and mindset of Kepa if he’s dropped as soon as mendy is back."
@TheRealEtinosa: "Honestly it's Kepa's competition. Mendy fit just watch."
With Kepa starting, he has the perfect opportunity to prove Petr Cech right about how "brilliant" he is.
Speaking in January, the Chelsea icon was full of praise from what he's seen from the Spanish goalkeeper.
He said on Chelsea's official website: "I must touch on Kepa, too. He had to fill those big boots while Edou has been away, and he has been brilliant in all those games under even more scrutiny than usual.
"You need a strong team and every person ready to help. The goalkeeping group work so hard together to make sure they are all ready for when the moment comes, so Kepa deserves credit too."
