It's Thibaut Time!

The biggest question mark going into Real Madrid's second LaLiga match of the season focuses on the goalkeeper position. Will it be Keylor or will it be Thibaut? That Navas started in goal for the league opener against Getafe last weekend pointed towards the Costa Rican keeping his place in goal - for this season at least. But this weekend AS are reporting that Julen Lopetegui is set to opt for the Belgian at Girona on Sunday night, with Keylor on the bench. The decision is set to split the Madrid fanbase. Most acknowledge Courtois as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet but Navas has a loyal following and always has since his arrival in the Spanish capital. His errors, as well as his top performance, have somehow warmed the fans towards him thanks to his likeable character. That character has made dropping the Costa Rican even harder for Lopetegui. That Navas' response to his future earlier this month was "leave Real Madrid? I've got as much desire of that as to die" only complicated matters further. But there is little room for sentiment in football, especially at Real Madrid. Courtois is the man for now and for the future and the quicker Lopetegui gets the former Chelsea man planted into his starting XI the faster the team can move forward - starting today in Catalonia. When probed on the goalkeeping dilemma at Saturday's pre-match press conference at Valdebebas, Lopetegui answered: "I'm not going to reveal anything, you'll see the line-up tomorrow. We haven't decided exactly what we're going to do. We've got some very good goalkeepers here, some of whom have joined us more recently, but they're all getting up to speed and it's down to us to decide. The role of goalkeeper is a bit of a different and special one. I'm relaxed because I know that regardless of the decision we take, it'll be for the good of the team". Lopetegui did right ion awarding Navas a starting role in the UEFA Super Cup final in Tallin, a reward for winning last season's Champions League. That Navas also started the opening league fixture now simply looks like a matter of giving Courtois more time to settle in, should the Belgian get the nod in Girona tonight. Only time will tell whether the decision will upset the balance of the dressing room and how Navas, a likeable character with his teammates, will react. Lopetegui could still use Navas as his 'cup 'keeper', in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, with Courtois playing week-in, week-out in the league. All eyes will be on the Belgian should he start tonight.