Real Madrid eased past Leganés 4-1 in a closed-door preseason test, and 18-year-old midfielder Thiago Pitarch used the stage to turn heads. The academy talent stepped up from first-team training to the scoresheet, adding poise and purpose to a controlled comeback overseen by Xabi Alonso.
A measured remontada, a timely breakthrough
Madrid fell behind early but responded with authority on Pitch 7 at Valdebebas. Goals from Dean Huijsen, Éder Militão, and Brahim Díaz flipped the game before Pitarch sealed it with a composed finish, capping a performance that matched the staff’s growing curiosity about his potential.
The workout came after a gym session and unfolded over two 45-minute halves, providing a calm, structured tune-up ahead of next week’s open friendly in Austria.
Alonso’s preseason blend paired regular starters with academy faces, reflecting a steady push in conditioning and chemistry. Within that mix, Pitarch’s touch and timing stood out. Freshly integrated into senior training this week, he translated those sessions into end product, fitting neatly into the day’s themes: controlled pressing, quick vertical links, and a platform for youth to show readiness under guidance.
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Why Pitarch’s moment matters
This preseason is short, and staff eyes are trained on internal solutions. Pitarch’s inclusion signals an evaluation phase that aligns with the team’s needs in midfield. His profile suits a control-first approach: smart positioning, crisp line-connecting passes, and off-ball intensity rather than flash. Those traits have surfaced across his Castilla and U19 steps, and the goal against Leganés adds a timely clip to an already encouraging week.
The case for his continued involvement is straightforward. He offers balance, tempo management, and calm under pressure. These are qualities that can stabilize rotations as matches stack up.
Who he is, where he’s heading?
Pitarch is 18, right-footed, and around 179 cm, with Spanish-Moroccan heritage. His route ran through Atlético, Getafe, and Leganés before Real Madrid added him to La Fábrica for 2023/24. Currently listed with the U19s, he has seen recent preseason runouts with Castilla. Coaches view him as a connector more than a dribbler. He is an agile organizer who links phases and reads space with sharp positional awareness.
That identity framed his display against Leganés: neat choices, steady rhythm, and the composure to finish late. It was not the headline act in a fitness-focused session, yet it carried weight.
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What’s next for Madrid and for Pitarch?
Madrid travel to Innsbruck to face WSG Tirol in an open friendly, the final tune-up before the LaLiga opener against Osasuna. The emphasis remains on conditioning, pressing structure, and reinforcing those quick vertical connections.
For Pitarch, the objective is consistency. Continued influence around Castilla, coupled with steady training impressions, can maintain his place on the senior team.
