Real Madrid are facing the most consequential night of Álvaro Arbeloa’s young managerial career — and the Spaniard is reportedly ready to make some jaw-dropping calls to get there.
Los Blancos will have to come back from a 1-2 loss in the first leg on Thursday at the Allianz Arena, which puts a lot of pressure on them. Spanish radio station COPE says that Arbeloa is considering leaving both Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler on the bench for the second leg, which they have to win. With Los Blancos heading to the Allianz Arena on Thursday needing to overturn a 1-2 first-leg deficit, the pressure is immense. And according to Spanish radio giant COPE, Arbeloa is weighing up the prospect of leaving both Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler on the bench for the must-win second leg.
The Problem with Camavinga
Arbeloa’s biggest problem right now is finding a way to fill the gap left by Aurélien Tchouaméni, who is out of action because he got too many yellow cards. The natural thing to do would be to give Camavinga the holding midfield spot, which he already did in the recent 1-1 draw at home against Girona.
But that performance in Girona might have cost him a lot. Camavinga didn’t look comfortable in the deeper position, had trouble taking charge, and got a lot of criticism for where he was during the move that let Girona tie the game. The coaching staff is rethinking everything because of that shaky outing.
Thiago Pitarch, an 18-year-old academy star, has been quietly making his case all season. Mario Cortegana of The Athletic says that Arbeloa is now seriously considering giving the teenager a big start on one of European football’s biggest stages, choosing him over the more experienced Camavinga.
Güler is also in danger.
According to COPE, the possible double benching would also mean that Turkish star Arda Güler would not start. It is a big change in strategy, even though earlier reports said that Güler would be part of a stable midfield core with Bellingham and Valverde.
If Arbeloa follows through on his most daring instincts, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, and probably Pitarch would make up the engine room for the rest of Madrid’s midfield.
Camavinga Stands Up for Himself
Not everyone has given up on the Frenchman yet. Anton Meana, a journalist for Cadena SER, said that Camavinga thinks he is completely ready, both physically and mentally, to take Tchouaméni’s place in the Bayern game. Friends of the 23-year-old say he has moved on from the Girona nightmare and is eager to show how good he is on the biggest stage.
A player fighting for his spot, a teenage prospect knocking on the door, and a manager under a lot of stress having to make a decision that could change the course of his career.
The Big Picture
Real Madrid fired Xabi Alonso earlier this season and gave the job to Arbeloa, who has slowly won over his critics. But this Bayern tie, which is away, down by one goal, and missing several players due to injury, including Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, and Rodrygo, is by far his hardest test.
The prize is a spot in the semifinals of the Champions League. Arbeloa has 90 minutes, and maybe the most daring choice of his life, to get it.
