Mendy and Ziyech start in Chelsea Champions League group stage opener against Zenit St. Petersburg
With the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League starting today Tuesday, Futball Surgery is interested in bringing all the news about African players featuring in the European top competition.
Here Moroccan International Hakim Ziyech has been named in Chelsea’s opener against Zenit at Stamford Bridge as the Blues start off in the title defense.
He’s not the only African star in Thomas Tuchel’s lineup but Senegalese International Édouard Osoque Mendy also starts in post.
The two African nationals only maintain their position from last weekend victory over Aston Villa.
Zenit meanwhile will be looking to go further than they ever have done in the Champions League this season and their campaign begins with no team than Chelsea on Tuesday night.
It’s a tough first opponent as they take on the defending European champions who are in good form at the moment.
In the game, Ziyech is playing in two upfront with Mason Mount behind Romelu Lukaku.
Zenit have never gone past the round of 16 in the competition and so the quarter-finals will be a huge achievement for the club.
Chelsea will also face Italian giants Juventus and Malmo in the group stage. Mendy has conceded only a goals in this season and against Liverpool in Chelsea 1-1 draw at Anfield last month.
Chelsea XI: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Ziyech, Lukaku, Mount
