Real Madrid prospect Thiago Pitarch has become a fixture in the first team, and his absence was definitely felt this weekend against Mallorca. Los Blancos were lacking concentration and quality in midfield, unable to control the game against one of La Liga's weaker sides, en route to a 2-1 loss.
Eduardo Camavinga started alongside Aurelien Tchouameni instead of Pitarch, and the drop off in quality was noticeable. The Frenchman was unable to plug up holes and actively surveil the scene for danger like Thiago would, even surrendering a first half goal to Mallorca that sent center back Antonio Rudiger seething at Cama's inability and unwillingness to track the runner who scored.
Many Madridistas were wondering why Thiago did not play against Mallorca, especially when he has become so important to the team. That alone - how much Thiago was missed - is a credit to his already paramount importance in the squad as a defensive midfielder, but the decision not to play him itself was an even bigger gesture.
Real Madrid rested Thiago Pitarch
As Manu de Juan and Calum Roche wrote for Diario AS, the logic behind not playing Thiago Pitarch against Mallorca was simple. Alvaro Arbeloa and Real Madrid want their young Spanish midfielder to be fully 100 percent for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Bayern Munich.
It is a similar treatment to what they gave two of their most important players in the squad and two center piece players of two Champions League titles, Vinicius Junior and Eder Militao. These two were rested from the starting lineup, just as Thiago was saved until coming in for the second half.
Alvaro Arbeloa already sees Thiago as a crucial player who needs to be kept fresh for the biggest games of the Champions League, even though few had even known his name before the season started. His rise has been meteoric, but viewing how Real Madrid performed against Manchester City in the last round of the Champions League knockout, it is evident why Real are so much better with Pitarch in the XI.
Real's decision to rest Thiago was a credit to the player's influence, and now they need him to live up to that billing against Bayern Munich. It is a lot of pressure on the young man's shoulders, yes, but the very best players in Madrid relish that pressure and live up to it, especially on the Champions League nights.