Real Madrid had a complicated evening on Tuesday evening. If the score of 2-1 is ultimately not catastrophic for Alvaro Arbeloa’s troops, who thus retain many options for qualifying in Munich, we could still see a huge difference in level between the two teams. Many Madrid players were overwhelmed by the challenge and by their counterparts, like Alvaro Carreras, who went through hell against Michael Olise. But the Spanish left-back was not the only Merengue to have a very complicated evening…
Thiago Pitarch also suffered enormously. In the Madrid midfield, he showed a certain excitement, with an error which clearly could have cost a goal in the first half. In addition to this ball, he also had difficulty in defensive work, against a Bayern who circulated the ball very quickly. And with the ball, he was not particularly convincing, not bringing much to the game. Already against Manchester City, in both matches, he was a little below the rest of his teammates.
A default choice?
A question therefore arises: why does Arbeloa continue to give him playing time in these top matches? The first answer is obvious, at least for the Iberian press. The other players playing in this position also perform poorly. This is the case of Eduardo Camavinga, much criticized in Madrid recently, as well as Dani Ceballos in particular, the Bellingham case being a little different since the Englishman is returning from injury. Pitarch, whom Arbeloa has known for years already when he coached the young merengues, therefore asserts himself as a choice somewhat by default. “When you see Pitarch against Bayern, those around him should be ashamed that he is starting with the little he shows in these matches”we heard for example on the Cadena SER.
Concerning a young local of only 18 years old, the Madrid press is logically a little more lenient and benevolent with Pitarch than with players like Camavinga, obviously. But she does not hide the fact that he is one of the team’s weak points in this type of match, and he was one of the players most singled out after this defeat against the Bavarians. The one who finally chose Spain before Morocco still has arguments in his favor compared to his competitors, particularly in defensive efforts, where he is indeed more generous and useful than the other players in his position. But that is not enough in these meetings against big names from the Old Continent. With the return of Jude Bellingham, everything indicates that Thiago Pitarch will return to the bench for the gala matches…
