Manuel Angel makes starting XI debut in Real Madrid match against Mallorca
Real Madrid return from international break with a must win matchup in Mallorca with the Champions League quarterfinal match against Bayern in a few days.
Alvaro Arbeloa has made a point of incorporating the Real Madrid academy players in the first team. Today in Mallorca one of the products of “La Fabrica” is set to make his debut in the starting XI.
Manuel Angel in XI
Manuel Angel debuted in Real Madrid’s match in Balaidos when Fede Valverde scored the game winner in stoppage time, and ever since he has been featured more and more for Arbeloa. He got time in both legs of the Champions League tie against Manchester City and now he is set to get his first start in the XI.
After the international break, Arbeloa had to balance how to manage the side for the match against Mallorca while keeping the Bayern Munich match in the back of his mind. For the match in San Moix, it’s Lunin in goal with Trent, Rudiger, Huijsen, and Carreras in the back. In the midfield it’s Tchouameni, Camavinga, Arda Guler and Manuel Angel and Brahim and Mbappe up top.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 4, 2026
🆚 @RCD_Mallorca
👉 @UnicajaBanco pic.twitter.com/pmxMII30AU
Arbeloa hasn’t shied away from using some of the younger members of the squad in important games. The most notable cantera man to be depended on lately is Thiago Pitarch who has become a staple over the last month.
Madrid getting healthy
Los Blancos also get Kylian Mbappe back from international duty seemingly back to full fitness. Jude Bellingham came back from a hamstring injury before the break and played a few minutes against Atletico Madrid. He will start on the bench as well as Eder Militao who has been sidelined since December 7th.
Real Madrid are currently four points behind Barcelona in the league table, and can’t afford to drop anymore points. Arbeloa knows that there is no margin for error, but his selection of Manuel Angel in the XI shows that he has the upmost confidence in the players from the academy.
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