In a short time, 18 year-old Thiago Pitarch has become an indispensable part of Álvaro Arbeloa’s 11, starting each of the Real Madrid’s last four matches. The teenage midfielder’s exceptional defensive effort is a big part of what has made him a first-team starter.
According to UEFA physical data, Pitarch totaled 10.93 kilometers against City in 76 minutes on the pitch. Opta, using different technology, tallied the Madrid midfielder at 11 kilometers in the match. Per UEFA, only Aurélien Tchouaméni,
who played the entire match, covered more ground against City (11.4 kms). The City match represented the first Champions League match this season where Madrid covered more distance than their opponent (Real Madrid, 113.7 kms, vs. Man City, 113.4 kms).
Perhaps the most telling data point of Thiago’s influence on the match is pressing data. Advanced Opta pressure data we reviewed showed Pitarch applied 63 high intensity pressures (pressure within two meters of the ball carrier) during the match, the most on Madrid despite not finishing the match. On a 90 minute adjusted-basis that comes out to 75 high intensity pressures, 15 more than the 60 of Vinicius who was second on the team.
Images A & B below illustrate two occasions within the first 18 minutes of the match where Pitarch’s pressure on Jeremy Doku eventually led to Madrid recovering the ball on City’s half of the pitch.
Image A
Image B
Pitarch epitomizes the kind of player and effort that Arbeloa is seeking from all his squad to get needed results. As the Madrid coach stressed in the press conference after the victory against Elche on Saturday, talent alone is not enough to win games.
It is also interesting to note that Thiago was the player that provided the most successful passes to the forward line against City, finding Brahim and Vinicius a total of nine times in the match. The precocious talent was also an important outlet for Thibault Courtois, with Thiago receiving six passes from the Madrid goalkeeper against City. Only Fede Valverde, who played the entire match, received more passes (10) from Courtois and almost all of those were long passes down the right flank.
Thiago’s performances have not been flawless. He lost the ball in what led to City’s biggest scoring chance in the first leg in the 75th minute and was dribbled past five times in Madrid’s half of the pitch. But it is clear that in Arbeloa’s eyes the young midfielder’s work rate and composure receiving the ball from the back compensate mistakes he may make due to his inexperience and overzealousness.
It will be interesting to see how Pitarch’s role evolves as Jude Bellingham gets reincorporated back into the team. One thing is for sure, the young Spaniard has quickly become a fan favorite at the Bernabéu and has the full confidence of his coach.
