Arbeloa considering starting Real Madrid academy gem over 23-year-old star vs Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Real Madrid could be set for a major midfield shake-up ahead of their decisive Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

According to Mario Cortegana via The Athletic, manager Alvaro Arbeloa is seriously considering a surprise decision – starting academy talent Thiago Pitarch ahead of Eduardo Camavinga.

With Aurelien Tchouameni suspended after accumulating yellow cards, the natural expectation was for Camavinga to step into the holding midfield role. 

In fact, he was already deployed there in the recent 1-1 draw against Girona.

Camavinga did not do enough

However, that performance has raised serious doubts internally. 

Camavinga struggled to control the game, looked uncomfortable in the deeper role, and faced criticism for his positioning, particularly in the sequence that led to Girona’s equaliser.

As a result, the coaching staff are exploring alternatives and one of those is 18-year-old Pitarch, who could be handed a huge opportunity on one of the biggest stages.

Pitarch will start ahead of Camavinga against Bayern Munich. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The rest of the midfield structure appears more settled, with Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Arda Guler are all expected to start, forming the core of Madrid’s setup.

Meanwhile, Camavinga’s recent form has not helped his case. 

Once seen as a reliable option across multiple roles, he is now struggling to convince in a position that demands discipline and control. 

His difficulties against Girona have only intensified scrutiny at a crucial stage of the season.

On the other hand, turning to Pitarch would signal a clear statement from the coaching staff, as he has delivered stable performances this season. 

Now, with a place in the semi-finals at stake, a lot depends on how Arbeloa sees his squad heading into what would be the most crucial game of his Real Madrid managerial career.