Revival or fleeting lift, Brahim Diaz back in Real Madrid’s plans | OneFootball

After his AFCON final Panenka miss and months of scant minutes, Brahim Diaz has returned to Real’s XI in successive games, impressing against Manchester City on Wednesday.

According to L'Équipe, since Alvaro Arbeloa took charge in early January, the 26-year-old has mostly had late cameos and only six starts all season.

He was hurt by failing to come on against Benfica in the Champions League play-off second leg, a 2-1 win on 25 February, as Cesar Palacios and Thiago Pitarch were preferred. Five days later he played only four minutes in the 1-2 defeat at Getafe.

In midweek he met Arbeloa, recalling he was effectively Real’s 12th man in their Liga and Champions League double two seasons ago. Arbeloa accepted the underuse and said he would try to play him more, praising his effort, involvement and team mindset.

Diaz then started at Celta Vigo last weekend, a 2-1 win, and again against City in Europe, a 3-0 victory, his first consecutive starts for 10 months. His tireless pressing, movement between the lines and defensive work unsettled City and lifted team-mates.

Frustration over minutes seems to have given way to renewed purpose. The premature end to Rodrygo’s season and Franco Mastantuono’s anaemic outings should hand Diaz a larger role, but whether City was a turning point remains to be seen.

Source: L'Équipe